• Home
  • Leadership Coaching Programs
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Leaders Create Space
    • The People Project
  • Book Steve
  • Talk To Steve
  • Testimonials
  • We Believe
  • Blog
  • About Steve
  • Talk To Steve
  • Book Steve
  • We Believe
  • Testimonials
  • About Steve

Next Level Executive Coaching

Mobile Menu
Mobile Menu
Talk To Steve
  • Home
  • Leadership Coaching Programs
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Leaders Create Space
    • The People Project
Home / Steve’s Blog / Building the Most Often Neglected Muscle…

Building the Most Often Neglected Muscle…

July 16, 2015 by Steve Laswell

DSC_0786

Don’t say, “I’m toning my body,” to a true bodybuilder. Even if they don’t use words, the condescending looks on their face will scream lack of respect.  Bodybuilders build their body for a lot of reasons. But building muscle is the focus, not toning.

I’m not a bodybuilder. (Anyone who’s met me is nodding vigorously).  I don’t even qualify for body toning. (More vigorous nodding).  I probably never will commit myself to a bodybuilding or body-toning plan (my wife, Rita, sighing with disappointment).

I have, however, committed to the most often neglected, and far more critical, muscle necessary for leadership success: My Brain.  I’m not interested in mind-toning … I’m talking Mind-Building.

Five mind-building strategies

Today, you’ll think somewhere in the neighborhood of 70,000 thoughts. There’s a lot going on around you and in your head. To enjoy high brain function and reverse workplace brain drain, consider adding these Mind-Building steps:

  1. Focus on one task at a time — multitasking disrupts connections and places more of the stress hormone cortisol into your brain, so do ONE-thing at a time.
  2. Manage technology — jumping back and forth between devices builds an “ADHD brain”.  Try turning them off once in a while or only check for new email 2 or 3 times a day.
  3. Get good fat — that’s right, get enough of the omega-3 variety to help with memory.
  4. Sleep — How much sleep do you get? Less than 7 to 9 hours is a drain on your brain. Set the alarm to go to bed if necessary.
  5. Exercise — exercise increases blood flow to the hippocampus, which is associated with memory function.

As we age, our brain has a harder time dealing with distractions. Brains get stronger by eliminating distractions rather than pushing to overcome them.                                                       – Dr. Sandra Chapman, Center for Brain Health at the University of Texas at Dallas

Create space for Mind-Building reflection

Even if you just do it for a day, you’ll feel the burning of powerful thinking.  Those are synapses getting stronger.  Functionality returning to flabby, dormant cortexes.  If Einstein saw you walking out of the Mind-Building gym, he’d say, “Gut work, for your first day.”

Commit to this Mind-Building plan long-term and pretty soon, Schwarzenegger, or Stephen Hawking, will start getting jealous…

As a leader, you have a lot draining your brain. How intentional will you be in support of improved memory, thinking, reasoning, and decision making?

Which of the five steps do you neglect most often in your life?

What will you do to support your brain?

Here’s to your powerful Mind-Building regimen,

Steve

Image: Creative Commons License Hikaru Kazushime via Compfight

« Seeing More than a Collision
What Those Notifications Really Do to You »

Tags: Distractions, ThinkingThis entry was posted on July 16, 2015 at 7:49 am and is filed under: Performance Improvement, Personal Development, Personal Growth, Personal Success

Categories

Subscribe to Steve’s Blog

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Next Level Executive Coaching

Phone: (918) 296-7785

Connect With Steve

Leadership Coaching Programs
Resources
We Believe
Testimonials
Contact Steve
About Steve

Subscribe to Steve’s Blog

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

© 2020 Next Level Executive Coaching, LLC | Privacy Policy | Designed by StructureM | Hosted by WildmanDesign

Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in