Amygdala reigns,

Emotions sway, fear and rage,

Primitive, yet strong.

Are you feeling a little on edge lately, with everything happening in the world and probably with the massive opportunity yet frightening AI tool of natural language processing, as one example? I, for one, certainly am definitely overwhelmed with information and need to go back to managing my amygdala on a daily basis as part of my exponential thinking daily exercises. If you are too, it’s not surprising because our brains are hardwired to become alert and reactive to perceived threats. This reaction is triggered by an almond-shaped mass of neurons located deep within your brain known as the amygdala, which helps us feel fear and motivate self-preservation. In other words, while it did keep our cave-dwelling ancestors safe from wild animals thousands of years ago, today this “emotional primacy” is operating on overload when it comes to everyday people like you and me.

So what do we do about this ancient response that can hijack even your most important decisions in business? Let’s dive into how understanding the power of the amygdala could be one way for leaders like yourself to regain focus to keep business on track towards success in these ever-changing times.

First, let’s look at recognizing scenarios where our amygdalas activate at work. Specifically, our response to potential threats that can impact digital transformation, progress, and innovation within an organization:

• Fear of failure: Executives who are leading digital transformation initiatives may experience fear of failure, which can lead to a reluctance to take risks and pursue innovative strategies. This will hinder progress and innovation within the organization, as new ideas and opportunities may be missed or just killed at ideation. Often the higher up the executive within the ranks, the less risk he/she is willing to take unless there is a clear plan and mandate for risk-taking from the CEO.
• Conflict avoidance: Collaboration and communication are key to successful digital transformation initiatives. However, executives who are averse to conflict may avoid difficult conversations or situations that could lead to conflict, hindering collaboration and ultimately slowing progress. This shows up in organizations that have siloed departments and are non-transparent with each other as the culture.
• Resistance to change: Digital transformation requires a willingness to adapt and embrace change. Executives who are resistant to change may prefer to stick to traditional ways of doing things, hindering innovation and progress within the organization. This can ultimately lead to falling behind competitors and missing out on new opportunities.

These are also all traits of fixed and linear mindsets which the amygdala feeds off of. To address these challenges, leaders can work to manage their amygdala’s response to potential threats by:

• Reframing negative thoughts: Leaders can identify and challenge negative thoughts related to digital transformation, reframing them in a more positive and constructive way to reduce the amygdala’s response to potential threats.
• Encouraging open communication: Leaders can encourage open communication and collaboration within their teams, creating a culture that values constructive feedback and dialogue. This can help address conflict avoidance and promote progress and innovation.
• Embracing change: Leaders can work to embrace change and encourage their teams to do the same. This can help overcome resistance to change and promote progress and innovation within the organization.

Simple Tips:

• In a team meeting, create a rule that if someone is going to squash a co-worker’s idea, i.e. say “no, we tried that before and it didn’t work” then he/she should give clear examples for why it won’t work now. Have the rest of the team challenge it. Technology has increased exponentially so what couldn’t work a year ago has probably advanced quickly and could work now.
• When you feel your amygdala kicking in, simply say to yourself “hmmm, isn’t that interesting?” And let the thought go.

In summary, the world is changing faster than we as humans can keep up. That fact will not change. Therefore we need to implement new ways of thinking and managing our emotions to keep pace with the rapid changes in business and technology. By understanding how the amygdala works and recognizing when it is triggering our emotional response to potential threats, leaders can take steps to manage their reactions and promote progress and innovation within their organizations. By reframing negative thoughts, encouraging open communication, and embracing change, leaders can help their teams stay focused and keep moving forward. Remember to be mindful of your own emotional responses and to stay open to new ideas and opportunities.

Reach out to learn more about our programs to Future Proof your teams at hello@futrcolab.com