Increasing Brain Power
1.
We must also beware of the “cattle phenomenon” whereby we fall into
the tedium of repetitive behavior and, as such, our brains do not progress
past Level 2. Consequently, repetition often leads to laziness.
“He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has
been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice.”
– Albert Einstein
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS
It is the manager’s objective to keep employees operating at Level 3 for as long
as is practical, thereby producing the best and most voluminous work products. To do
so, the manager must minimize distractions, relieve tension, and maximize focus
on work (concentration). To this end, the manager should consider the following:
Use of Stimulants
No, I am not suggesting the use of narcotics in the work place, other than a
good strong cup of coffee (the rocket fuel of industry). However, you want to
create an environment that appeals to the human senses, specifically visual,
audio, touch, even smell. For example, a well lit and brightly painted room
stimulates human senses as opposed to a dark, dull, lackluster room. A
painting or office furnishings can add a touch of class and stress the disposition
of the office. A calm and quiet office, perhaps with some suitable background
music, can help people focus as opposed to a loud and boisterous environment.
Ergonomically designed office equipment can have a positive impact on employee
behavior. But be careful not to introduce too much comfort as it might put people
to sleep. To illustrate, I do not have a problem with hard chairs that force people
to sit up and pay attention.
Encourage mental gymnastics during the day. Perhaps some friendly debate
or the solving of a problem. It has long been known that puzzles, crosswords,
chess and checkers, and the like help stimulate the human brain. Simple, basic
social intercourse can work wonders in terms of stimulating the mind.
Consider room temperature; if too warm or too cold, it will become distracting.
But keep the room more cool than warm as it forces you to stay awake. Also
consider the amount of available oxygen which stimulates the brain.
Another area to review is nutrition. Make sure workers are eating the right
foods in the right amount. Large meals tend to put people to sleep immediately
afterwards.
Basic exercises can also enhance both physical and mental acuity. Many
companies now offer in-house facilities for such programs.
Understand this, employee breaks are not all bad. It gives the worker an
opportunity to get away from his work, clear his head, and return with a
better focus. Of course, there will be those employees who will abuse this
privilege and, because of this, the manager has to constantly monitor the
use of breaks.
Ultimately, the corporate culture has a profound effect on the stimulation
of workers. If the right environment is established, you can turn lethargic
workers into “movers and shackers.”
Motivate
It is necessary for the manager to encourage workers to rise to a challenge
and work harder. To this end, the manager must play the role of Industrial
Psychologist to understand what makes people tick, thereby providing the means
to motivate them to excel. This can be done with simple praise, rewards, and
recognition. It can also be done through constructive criticism. I have seen
instances where both a cheerleader approach and a tough taskmaster approach
have worked to positive effect. Some people respond to praise, others respond
better when their integrity is challenged. Here, the manager has to intuitively
know when and where to press the right buttons of his workers.
The manager needs to be able to create a sense of urgency, regardless of the
task at hand. This can be done either by carrot or by stick depending on the situation.
The worker must understand their work is important and adds value to their life.
If they feel their work is irrelevant, then their self-esteem will suffer and they
will put forth little effort to achieve anything. One way of implementing this is
to empower the workers and make them more personally responsible for their
actions and allow them to participate in the decision making process. By
creating a sense of ownership, the worker becomes more responsible (and active)
in their work effort.
Avoid Repetition
As indicated earlier, repetition can cause the brain to relax. Because of this,
the manager must consider ways to break up the monotony and cause the
workers to refocus. Work breaks can