How to fix the exhausted brain | Brady Wilson | TEDxMississauga

Summary

The speaker shares a personal story of conflict and reconciliation, setting the stage for a deeper dive into the transformative power of stepping into 'the space between.' Through the narrative of Paula and her manager Ziad, the talk explores how understanding and addressing what truly matters to individuals can energize brains, leading to improved performance and well-being. The speaker emphasizes the importance of connecting on a personal level to unlock the potential within others, using the principles of neurobiology to illustrate the impact of hormones like oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin on motivation and creativity.

Takeaways

• 😌 The speaker positions the audience as heroes on a journey to discover a transformative gift.
• 👫 A personal story is used to illustrate the concept of 'the space between', highlighting the speaker's long-standing experience in mediating conflicts.
• 🏭 The narrative describes a common scenario in North American workplaces where employees are engaged but exhausted, and dedicated but depleted.
• 🧠 The human brain's high energy consumption is emphasized, explaining why mental depletion can lead to a loss of executive function.
• 💡 The importance of executive function for focus, emotion regulation, and smart decision-making is highlighted, and how depletion can negatively impact these abilities.
• 🤔 The story of Paula and her manager Ziad is introduced to demonstrate the journey from depletion to energized brains through support and understanding.
• 🤝 The power of stepping into 'the space between' is presented as a means to understand and energize others, starting with Paula's desire for more challenges at work.
• 🧐 The significance of asking what matters most to an individual in a given situation, rather than assuming, is shown through Ziad's approach with Paula.
• 🚀 The release of hormones like oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin in response to connection, possibility, and progress is discussed as a way to energize brains.
• 🤝 The role of partnering for progress is underscored as a way to unlock potential and motivate individuals, as seen in Paula's improved performance.
• 👣 The common mistake of putting oneself in another's shoes with preconceived notions is identified as a barrier to truly understanding and supporting others.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the speaker's talk?

The main theme of the speaker's talk is about understanding and stepping into 'the space between' to unlock the potential for personal and professional growth and transformation.

Why did the speaker believe she could help the audience become heroes?

The speaker believes she can help the audience become heroes by guiding them through a journey of self-discovery and understanding, where they can find a gift that could change their world.

What was the conflict between the speaker's two older brothers?

The conflict between the speaker's two older brothers was a vicious fight that led them to vow never to speak to each other again for several years.

How did the speaker's mother secretly show love to her estranged son Mark?

The speaker's mother secretly baked cinnamon buns and asked the speaker to deliver them to Mark, along with a message of love.

What was Paula's initial state when she started her job?

Paula initially started her job as a high performer, highly engaged, and wanting to contribute to the organization.

What happened to Paula after the reorganization of her company?

After the reorganization, Paula lost the support, guidance, and coaching she needed, leading to exhaustion and a depleted brain.

What is the significance of the brain being 'metabolically expensive'?

The brain being 'metabolically expensive' means it consumes a large portion of the body's energy reserves, 20 percent every day, which is more than any other organ.

What is the first cognitive function to be affected when the brain is depleted?

The first cognitive function to be affected when the brain is depleted is the executive function, which includes focus, emotion regulation, and decision-making.

What is Ziad's initial approach to helping Paula, and why does it fail?

Ziad's initial approach is to take things off Paula's plate to alleviate her stress. It fails because it is a parenting approach rather than a partnering approach, and it does not address what truly matters to Paula.

What is the key to understanding what matters most to someone in a given situation?

The key to understanding what matters most to someone in a given situation is to simply ask them what is most important to them in that context.

How did Ziad's approach change after learning about the importance of understanding what matters most to Paula?

After learning about the importance of understanding what matters most, Ziad started giving Paula more challenges at work, which she desired, and supported her in meeting those challenges, leading to her success.

What are the hormones that play a significant role in the brain's response to connection, possibility, and progress?

The hormones that play a significant role are oxytocin, which is released during connection; dopamine, which is released when sensing possibility; and serotonin, which flows when making progress.

Why do people often fail to connect on what matters most to others?

People often fail to connect on what matters most to others because they put themselves in others' shoes with their own assumptions and judgments, rather than genuinely seeking to understand the other person's perspective.

What is the impact of truly understanding and connecting with someone's story?

Truly understanding and connecting with someone's story can significantly elevate one's energy level and create a deeper sense of rapport and engagement.