Engage (Employees) Mindfully

We are thrilled to kick-off our “Winning Employees through Engagement” series. And we start with one of our favorite thinkers Dr. Ellen Weber. Ellen explores employee engagement like no other. This is fresh. It’s different. And it will get you thinking. And when you get to the bottom of the post, be sure to read about Dr. Weber’s street cred. She’s got game!

Odd as it seems paths to engaging others mindfully rarely start by engaging others at all. How so?

Worker isolation defines people who run from downsizing, reel from recession, and dash toward any kind of meaning at work. People in pressure cookers, may long to engage others, but have you seen it happen?

Where’s the Disconnect?

What’s missing? Why do polls point to increasingly disengaged workers?

Most people agree that skills to engage mindfully are similar to those that open new possibilities, trust in a purpose and go after passion. And neuro research supports mindful facilitation of genius uptakes even in unlikely places. To draw in other’s talent though, is to first jumpstart mental equipment you possess but may need to rev past stutters or stalls.

It’s Risky to Engage

Risk-takers look beyond daunting odds before they lay their bets on another’s wit or wisdom. Research calls for the brain’s feel good chemical – or dopamine – to fuel risks that defy logic.

Only by tanking up on dopamine for mindful engagement will you build successfully with others. It’s why we teach a sort of mutual mentoring, or mindguiding across differences, here at the Brain Center. Ready for game-changing-results that folks crave yet miss most at work?

What’s missing? Why do polls point to increasingly disengaged workers?

Engagement Starts with You

Luckily your brain increases fluidity by simply rolling daily dice for novelty beyond your comfort zone. Risk-taking launches your mental makeover, in easy moves from inner strengths. With each possibility engaged, you ramp up intrapersonal or intuitive intelligence, because your brain reconfigures itself with every risk taken. You literally become the uptake.

Following your mental makeover, in preparation to draw others on board – expect a massive rewiring of vast cortical connections. Yes – meaningful interaction is far more difficult than simply learning new operating approaches. It’s also the turnaround key for stagnant organizations. Easy? No.

Newly learned facilitation skills come into plastic competition with neural networks that may even dwell on past regrets at first. They’ll fight for a place among patterns of disappointments that landed you in tough financial or emotional ruts in the first place.

Engage Others who Differ

With each risk, you begin to build stronger neuron pathways for further confidence to go memorable miles together. It makes sense to jump in, but start small. Affirm another person’s thoughts before sharing your views, for instance, to show that you heard, prioritized, and plan to use new ideas. Notice I did not say agree with everybody.

 

Meaningful interaction is far more difficult than simply learning new operating approaches. It’s also the turnaround key for stagnant organizations.

 

Imagine shared adventures that await when curiosity propels lessons from others. Why not invite one person who differs most from you to lunch. Brainstorm improvements for a shared interest, or offer a new approach that shares resources and talents across departments. Thank people for unique ideas offered and suggest ways to use these further. Toss your own ideas into the ring more to show and explain differences you see than to top another’s view.

Consider the windfall for all, when courage triggers you to ask open-ended questions that support peers’ interests and capabilities. Engage more working-memory-motivation when curiosity revs up possibilities through questions such as – What if…? Or ask, Have you thought about…? Could another possibility be …?

What idea will roll engagement into your reality today? How will you inspire others with confidence that drives mindful engagement?

 

Connect Deeper with Dr. Ellen Weber

Dr. Ellen Weber is recognized globally for brain-compatible engagement with personal and organizational tools that convert wellbeing into game-changing results.
Dr. Weber was recently invited to contribute to ASTD’s 2012 Leadership Manuel where the Mita Leadership approach shapes a new kind of leader for the innovation era we’ve entered.

Director of Innovative Change at the Mita International Brain Center, Weber is a global leadership facilitator, who teaches leadership renewal at The Bittner School of Business. Her well respected workplace improvement program includes ground-breaking brainpowered tone tools to lead innovation and renewal. Her MBA Leadership course, Lead Innovation with the Brain in Mind impacts both online and real time leader development.

Connect with Ellen on Twitter here and LinkedIn here.

 

Tomorrow Roy Saunderson chimes in on engagement. Be sure to subscribe below to get the latest ideas on employee engagement. Soon, we’ll announce the full roster of the bloggers and authors contributing to the series.

Art by  Zloygrin