The theme for the 2023 NeuroLeadership Summit is “Recalibrate,” and Day 1 attendees left with a wealth of ideas to do just that, on topics ranging from DEI to performance management to burnout.
John Edwards, Director of Leadership at NLI, opened the Summit by saying with all the changes happening in the world right now, if you don’t recalibrate, you’ll feel like a flip phone in a 5G world.
Here are some highlights from the many incredible presentations that took place today:
“Irreconcilable Differences”
The tension and disconnect between leaders and employees has never been greater. Quitting and quiet quitting are at record highs, and only about 23% of employees rate themselves as engaged. How can leaders and employees find common ground and reconcile their differences?
According to Dr. Amy Edmondson, Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, we need to shift our mindset from one where we need to know, be right, be in control, and save face, to one of mutual learning.
Edmondson and other panelists emphasized the importance of experimentation, psychological safety, empathy, and mutual accountability to help bridge the divide.
“The Neuroscience of Burnout”
Today, 59% of workers report feeling burnout — more than during the height of the pandemic. Burnout is associated with a continuous sense of threat and high levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which impacts how we make decisions, regulate our emotions, and interact with others.
Organizations should prioritize well-being to prevent employee burnout and the ensuing disconnection, loss of focus, reduced productivity, and threat of quitting. But there are also things individuals can do to reduce burnout, such as engaging in activities from the Healthy Mind Platter.
Psychologist Dr. Lindsay Bira led participants through a breath-hold exercise to help improve their ability to reappraise stressful situations and avoid burnout.
“Prioritize the Learner in Digital Transformation”
Digitization can optimize learning, but only if done with science in mind.
According to Tapio Kymäläinen, President of Howspace, the pandemic caused a huge shift in how a learning experience can work as people rapidly developed skills in using digital tools. Panelists tied the effectiveness of digital learning to social learning, the AGES Model™, personal relevance, and problem solving.
“The Evolution of DEI”
With the recent Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, many organizations are asking themselves how they can stay the course on their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). But Kenji Yoshino, professor at NYU School of Law, argued that the conflation of affirmative action and DEI isn’t accurate because DEI touches on so much more, such as unconscious bias training, sponsorship and mentorship, heritage months, and affinity groups.
“DEI will and must change,” he said. “So long as we remain steadfast and are resolved, it will not be moved. It will be transformed.”
Check back here tomorrow for Day 2 Summit highlights.
