The Brain Explainer

Fancy some science-backed self-care that puts the 'fun' into functional? Then treat yourself to The Leadership Mantra, a NeuroCreative colouring book! Head over to my Etsy Store to download yours now!

The Leadership Mantra Calm Colouring Activity - Etsy This Coloring Books item is sold by NeuroCreativeStudio. Ships from United States. Listed on Aug 26, 2024

LinkedIn strikes again - old faces and new at a very interesting Belfast hangout. Looking forward to getting to know this co-working collective more.

With Thomas Martin Gilchrist LL.B (Hons) and Alex at Farset Labs

📂I don't have a CV.
🖼️I have an 'Experience Portfolio'.
Fancy 😜

I have done many things very successfully over the years, but I can almost guarantee you that I would not pass through the eye of most current recruitment needles. 🪡

🧓Not because I’m too old.
🎓Not because I’m not qualified.
🧠Not because I’m not smart enough.

🎲It’s because I don’t know the rules of the game.

Does this resonate with anyone?
It comes up all too often in conversations.

🧑‍🏫I’ve spoken to highly qualified people, applying to organisations with a clear objective to introduce more diversity into their teams. But these organisations are failing - failing their mission, and failing their candidates.

Even with these intentions, there is one big stumbling block.

👓Lack of transparency prior to the interview. I’m not saying this is deliberate, but we can be conditioned by certain thinking - a bias towards how we do things, an assumption that it is 'The Way', or an assumption that our 'Way' is known to all.

Otherwise excellent candidates are not always aware that there may be a formula to answering your interview questions /scenarios. So, if you use CARL or STAR to assess things fairly, then ensuring that all candidates are aware of this is going to increase your chances of identifying the best person for the job.

📨And it seems like such a simple fix - let people know prior to the interview that this is what you’ll be looking for. Or is that crazy talk?

To continue reading, check this link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/deirdremorrison_recruitment-hr-diversityinhiring-activity-7190681152901259264-jsg-?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

📣 Professional Women in and around Belfast!

🌟 Leadership Development Opportunity 🌟
🚀 Neuroeffective Leadership Circle with Lean In Network 🚀

If you’re curious about what the intersection of neuroscience and leadership means for the workplace, I'm excited to announce a unique opportunity for my female connections in and around Belfast.

As part of the inspiring Lean In Network—founded by Sheryl Sandberg to champion women's career growth—I've initiated a Circle dedicated to Neuroeffective Leadership.

🧠 What's on the Agenda?
Join a close-knit group of 10-12 women, ready to dive into how neuroscience can empower us as leaders. Our journey will blend accessible neuroscience tools, experiential learning, enriching peer discussions, and, of course, the chance to expand our professional networks in meaningful ways.
From enhancing interpersonal communication and emotional intelligence to mastering stress management and resilience, decision-making, and igniting creative thinking—this circle is about growing together, in leadership and life.

🤔 Why Join?
This isn't just about professional development. It's about enriching our lives in every dimension, unlocking potentials we knew we had (and some we didn't).

📆 Ready for This Adventure?
If you're as excited as I am to explore the possibilities of neuroeffective leadership, I'd love to hear from you. Drop me a message!

And if I'm tagging you below, it's because I value your support in spreading the word about this pioneering journey that's about to begin.
Let's lean into neuroeffective leadership together!

Are Masterminds dead?

Let's face it, Masterminds are not a new idea. They've been around as long as the hills. Or since Napoleon Hill at least!

But in today's world of online communities and vast networks, where there's always someone willing to offer you an opinion, and probably sell you a solution, is there still a space for these smaller, more intentional groups?

How do you view mastermind groups in the context of current trends and digital accessibility?

🏆 Valuable and relevant for my career progression
🎩 Old hat and outdated
🤷 Never tried one

Go to this link to answer the question: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/deirdremorrison_masterminds-professionaldevelopment-groupcoaching-activity-7181546054952091648-zpoF?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

www.linkedin.com

Change is constant, as they say.

It’s how we perceive it that makes the difference.

I was pulling on a hoodie I hadn’t worn in a while this morning, and in the pocket, I found a face mask.

It transported me momentarily to a time when face masks were all the rage…. This season, I shall be wearing mostly PPE….

But here we are now. Change after change. We are all capable of change, thanks to those marvellous brains and their neuroplasticity.

Sometimes it seems easier than others to create sustainable change. Why is that?
How do we support our brains in creating change either individually or collectively?
Are you curious about this?
If so, hit the like & follow for more :)

Awards season is upon us.....
This week, I have the pleasure of recognising some of the most creative, colourful, and not to mention cute junior entrepreneurs :)

I have to tell you, it has been an eye opener. They were set a product development challenge, as part of the Junior Dragons programme, created by Ellie Irving, and what emerged was nothing short of amazing.

These kids are 9-11 years old. They formed the most amazing, co-operative, self-managing teams. They collaborated. They brainstormed. They delegated and divided up work loads.

Some have created genuinely marketable ideas (as evidenced by their class mates trying to buy the prototypes!). Some have discovered their zones of genius by pushing their idea of what creativity is, and what they can use in their work. And some have absolutely shone by just leaning into what it is that they love.

Honestly, I have met people here that I would ABSOLUTELY assign roles in management, research, sales, and design. They have been amazing.

So today, we'll recognise that. This isn't an attendance certificate. This is a recognition of strengths certificate. There are many categories, ranging from creative design, to young leader. I want them to know that their strengths have been seen, and that those strengths are valuable and valued.

Not everyone fits into the same boxes. (I should know ;)) We really need to see people for who they are and what they're good at.

There's a phrase in Irish, 'Mol an oige agus tiocfaidh siad.' Basically, it means praise the young, and they'll come. Our young shoots of creativity, skill, and exploration need to be nourished, not measured against adult scales and checklists.

I, for one, have thoroughly enjoyed my time with these amazing kids, and there is no reward or accolade I have appreciated more, than them asking me if I'll come back again. That, my friends, has been the highlight of my year so far.

Here's another opportunity to join me for a virtual workshop event, hosted by National Organisation for Responsible Micro, Small and Medium-sized Businesses.

On 19th April, we'll be exploring:
- developing personal resources such as resilience and creative thinking
- how brain science can help change-makers
- new resources to help on those days when seems like creating meaningful change isn’t possible

This is open to ORB members, but if you're not already a member, I'd encourage you to check out their great work.

Click here for more information: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/deirdremorrison_book-now-emotional-support-for-change-makers-activity-7173950984585420800-D5fQ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

www.linkedin.com

I had the pleasure of spending a day with someone well outside my field not so long ago. I got to ask ALL the questions I could think of about a whole new subject - in this instance, the middle ages.

Of course, this is the kind of opportunity that I absolutely relish - I had a load of questions about architecture, plague, population density, and whether beer really was safer than water.

There were a few good humoured eyerolls about some of the myths I'd picked up (see above re. beer).

Of course this got me thinking.
When we run into someone who's got a different area of expertise, it's such a great opportunity.

Do we embrace it and ask all the questions, or do we sit back and hope to pass ourselves in the conversation without appearing too daft?

How do we approach it when the conversation is so intimately connected with how we think about ourselves - about our very inner workings - our brain....

I'm all in favour of the asking the questions approach. There are no stupid questions when you're learning something new.

If the person you're speaking to is worth their salt, they'll love sharing their passion and knowledge with you, and they won't mind starting at the start either.

We all start somewhere, right? Surprising as it may seem, no one is born knowing words or concepts like neuroplasticity!
Be brave!
Ask the questions!
Most people are only too delighted to have the conversations! I am for sure. Come to an event if you can - it's always more fun. I'll be doing a virtual one for NICVA (Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action) on 25th April and in person with Emma Djemil The HR Big Meet on 17th May for a start.

CAPTION COMP: How would you caption these two middle ages peeps doing their brain intervention? Thankfully, we have come a long way since then!

Here's the thing about personal development.
There are so many people who are happy to tell us WHAT to do.
So many methods and acronyms for success systems!

There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, by the way.
Who doesn't love a good acronym! It helps us remember. That's a good thing.

But honestly, if you don't understand the 'why' behind the 'what' - the reasons behind the regime - then you run the risk of undermining your potential to succeed.

That's not the way for everyone, of course. Some of us just love a bit of woo and magic, and are happy with the 'faith in the feel good'. Horses for courses.

To read more about this article, check this link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/deirdremorrison_personaldevelopment-brainawareness-success-activity-7172863950626234369-zOaI?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

*New Event Dates*

We're back, and we've got brand new dates for the Tools for Thriving Workplaces!

This workshop is organised in conjunction with NICVA (Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action), and is for HR managers, team leaders, those who manage staff or volunteers in the Voluntary and Community Sector and want to improve how they communicate with and support them, with greater awarness of neuro-tools and techniques.

This event will be delivered virtually, so I'd love to see you there!
Click below to know more!

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/deirdremorrison_tools-for-thriving-workplaces-with-neuro-activity-7173226282225254401--DJR?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

www.linkedin.com

I'm not going to lie.
There are times when the work that needs to be done feels overwhelming.
Today is one of those days.

It was prompted by a request to contribute to an article about how certain advances in technology could serve to help us tap into our humanity more.

It's a beautiful and idealistic idea. But the state of things, and the patterns we see in human society again and again suggest that it's unlikely to be the case, unless something changes radically, and quickly.

Look at what our species does - and has done - as our technology has advanced.
- we become more detached from our environments
- we find ways to pack any time we might save with other stuff
- we experienced some of the benefits of slowing down during covid, but we just ramped things back up again as soon as we got a chance

And yes, I absolutely see that there is a tension in this equation - a push-pull that has always existed, and is built into the very fabric of things.

To read more please check this link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/deirdremorrison_technology-personaldevelopment-culture-activity-7172161704108216320-6V5h?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

🌟 Hey! 🌟
Do you use mind maps?

They're where everything starts for me. A kind of skeleton that I can hang things on - jot them down as quickly as I'm thinking through ideas.

Typically, that has ended up being on sheets of paper 📝, notebooks 📒, reMarkable ✍️.... and more recently, MindMeister 🧠.
I actually have even been known to create them on actual old ordnance survey maps 🤭

But the ultimate mind mapping tool is eluding me. What's your favorite mind mapping tool?

I'm trying to select one that will allow me to make:
- many maps 🗺️
- maps within maps 🔄
- maps connected to maps 🧩

So, maybe I'm looking for something that doesn't really exist - the simplicity of a MindMeister style, and the depth of something like infranodus....

💭💡Any recommendations?



Some of the words we hear about the human mind are sometimes a little woolly in our understanding.

Here are three important concepts that can shift our understanding and approach.
Understanding our brain and mind can create massive improvement in our levels of effectiveness, wellbeing, interpersonal communication and decision-making. Let me know if this is helpful, and if you want more!

if you want to learn about those concepts, check this link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/deirdremorrison_3-important-ideas-for-understanding-your-activity-7168533356278718464-Q3dL?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

www.linkedin.com

If they can parallel park, they’re doing better than my 18 year old, and I will happily put them on my insurance 😆

Go check the post here:

www.linkedin.com

Can’t wait for this!

I’ll be delivering a workshop at the HR Big Meet in May and we’ll look at "Emotions and our overwhelming world: working with our brains to redress the balance"
It’s such an immense topic to dig into. And it saves so much energy and grief to get under the hood with it!

Much gratitude to Emma Djemil for her leadership and vision in pulling this event together! I hope to see you there!

Genuine query here, not intended to be controversial in anyway.

Do you think that it's important that people demonstrate their qualifications / designations after their name. I've gathered up some random letters along the way, but never bothered to display them. Should I? Does it help to see them on a profile after a name or not?

Go check this link to answer the question:

www.linkedin.com

You gotta run with the good ideas!

Last week, two wonderful LinkedIn connections surprised me with much appreciated shoutouts. So today, I am taking a leaf from the books of Niraj Kapur and Jill Poet and creating a shout out list of my own.

If you're not already aware of the amazing people mentioned in this post, then please take a moment to view their profiles or connect with them! Also, this is such a nice idea, that I'd love to see others picking up the baton!

Emma Djemil - although Emma mostly talks about HR, her content is absolutely hilarious, and will strike chords with many. This woman is spit your coffee funny, and as well as that, is doing her bit to change the world.

Claire Dallas - I met Claire recently through the National Organisation for Responsible Micro, Small and Medium-sized Businesses, and I was blown away by her small business awards initiative. I strongly recommend that any small or micro businesses who have a strong sustainability focus should get a look at this ASAP.

Jan Cavelle - Jan's consistently thoughtful and thorough articles are an absolute resource, and bring us insights from her incredible career. Jan publishes many in depth articles, and has also written two books aimed squarely at those starting businesses

Sharlene Halbert Coach - A relationship coach on Linked In? Get over it. If your personal relationships are suffering, the chances are it's impacting your effectiveness elsewhere, and vice versa if your work is the seat of the problem. Our lives are ecosystems, not distinct parts. Relationships matter to work, and back again.

And last, but by no means least,
Professor Adam Nicholls - This guy has been consistently sharing such insightful content from the world of sports coaching. I would recommend it to anyone, and encourage you to ponder the parallels between the examples he gives and your own domain.

Ok, that's all! Happy Monday, and I hope you find something inspiring in this little line up!

Want some simple, everyday brain care strategies?

🧠 Here's a Date for Your Diary! 🗓

Join Gabriella Benkő and I, as we celebrate International Brain Awareness week with a special event on 12th March (link in comments).

🧠 We'll share some practical ways to help you optimise your brain performance with every day strategies.
👟 We'll be taking a 'first steps' approach, so if this is a new topic for you, don't worry! You will not be out of your depth.
📚 Our objective is to make this information as accessible as possible, so that no previous knowledge or expertise is required.

Some of these strategies may surprise you, or you may be surprised to find that you're already using some of them! (go you! 🙌 )

👩‍🏫 This is a free event, purely for education purposes. We don't have anything to sell you, so come along, safe in the knowledge that your credit card will not be requested at any point!

"I normally hate this kind of stuff, but I really enjoyed that!"

This was the feedback I got from a very technical manager as she left one of my workshops. 🤣

She sounded so surprised that talking about communication, emotions in the workplace, and wellbeing could actually be relevant to her performance or her team!

She wasn't alone – in a room filled with hardcore technical minds, one attendee confessed he had contemplated walking out. This crowd definitely sat on the engineering side of the fence, where ambiguous and unquantifiable stuff had no place... Or so they assumed.

But when we started joining the dots between what neuroscience tells us about the body / brain / emotion matrix, then these formerly dangerous and uncomfortable waters started to look a whole lot more navigable. Light bulbs started going off. You could actually see them flashing in real time as the connection between these new skills and team effectiveness became evident.

I'm forever saying that the why and the how gives us access to new choices and options. Understanding how we interpret the body's signals to create the emotional response is not as mysterious as we've been led to believe. And when we know, we see things in a different light.

➡️ How we're feeling is easier to understand.
➡️ How we respond is easier to manage.
➡️ How we view others is kinder and more considered.
➡️ And we're more effective - we have more clarity, more creativity, and collaborate better.

So, here's a question for you:
If you want to put up shelves, do you do it with the lights off? 🤔

To continue the reading with the answer to that question, check this link:

www.linkedin.com

“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.”
~ Helen Keller

I had the pleasure this week of co-hosting a discussion on the universally popular sport of procrastination, with my applied neuroscience bestie Gabriella Benkő, in the company of some utterly fabulous participants.

We looked at the basis for the very human tendency to procrastinate - and identified some common reasons - including our tendency to avoid emotional discomfort, which we often perceive as danger. (Hence the choice of quote!)

We looked at reasons for it - if so many of us do it, it must have some benefits, right?

And we talked about how we can make different choices, through greater awareness of how this incredible mind of ours works.

We'd love to have you at our next event btw. Hit the comments / reactions if you're interested in your personal development, and want to avail of these free & no sales opportunities!

If I invited you to follow the ‘Fifty Hitting 50’ page, it’s not any kind of reflection on my perception of your age, but a warm invitation to join us for the thrills and spills of some live conversations about the meaning of life.

If i didn’t invite you, it’s cos LI have limits on this stuff. I’ll put the link in the comments.

This is how you spell my name backwards btw. Cos no-one ever has trouble with it the right way round ;)

Stay tuned for some amazing guests over the next while. Really looking forward to these, cos every one enhances my perspective. Maybe it will for you too?

Meet The Ancestors.

Herewith, a pic I took of my dad (75) and gran(95), sitting by her fireplace on my last visit.

You’ll notice, no doubt his stylish ‘just back from a day’s manual work’ look, and her frame bent from years of hard work.

They both have work at the core of their identity - so much so, that I suspect they gloss over the truth of their physical frailties when speaking to their doctors, lest they be told they must stop. Not that either of them would, of course.

But I suspect that both their ailments and ability to continue with the work that means so much to them could be eased and extended, if they could see the value in all this new-fangled looking after yourself malarkey.

And naturally, that is always their first advice to me - look after yourself! But it’s very much a ‘do what I say, not what I do’ piece of advice.

We each have our choices to make, and we do the best we can with the tools and awareness that we have.

We have access to different information and options than they had. But will we choose them?

Do you see a difference in your lifestyle and that of your parents? What about your attitude to self-care and health management? Is that going to change the way you age? I’m curious :)