Neuroscience for Coaches: How to Use the Latest Insights for the Benefit of Your Clients

233 Pages·2014·1.671 MB·English

by  Amy Brann

i
PRAISE FOR
NEUROSCIENCE
FOR COACHES
‘Neuroscience for Coaches achieves the rare feat of simplifying complex ideas and
concepts and translating them to meaningful practical action. It is a must-read
for any coach seeking to enhance their knowledge, skills and credibility.’
Ruth Stuart, Learning and Development Research Adviser, Chartered
Institute of Personnel and Development
‘Neuroscience for Coaches is focused on delivering its promise: to provide insights
for coaches, in the language of coaching. Amy Brann blends the latest research
in neuroscience with a solid understanding of coaching contexts while regularly
posing and answering the question: What can I do with a client now having
understood this? A must-read for any coach looking to benefit from
neuroscience’s Big Data of the brain.’
David James, www.wecommend.com and past L&D Director EMEA for Disney
‘In my coaching practice, the art of pausing is key. Pausing not to complete my
client’s thought process, not to jump in and help – but pausing to allow the
client’s resourcefulness to kick in. It was one of the most difficult skills to learn
because, as a management consultant, I had always been taught to have the
answer and so I resisted not helping. Now as an ‘expert in facilitating self-
directed neuroplasticity’ (as Amy defines coaches in Neuroscience for Coaches),
I know I help by not offering my help but rather offering the power of pause.
As Amy explains, pause allows the brain to ‘fire and rewire’ and thereby create
or reinforce a new neural pathway – that’s actually how resourcefulness kicks in
and why it’s so important to hold back. Read this book if you want to understand
the science behind the art of coaching.’
Chris Jackson, EMCC UK President
‘Amy Brann writes with an energy that makes you want to keep reading. Think:
page-turner for the world of neuroscience. The book allows you to understand
the application of neuroscience to coaching, adding credibility and perspective
on why this field will continue to affect what we do as coaches. Amy has a fresh,
accessible style underpinned with sound research and this book will whet your
appetite to know more and inspire new thinking of your own.’
Helen Tiffany, www.becdevelopment.co.uk, past Chair at the Association
for Coaching
ii
‘As a neuroscience sceptic I’ve been converted. This book is full of great
exercises I can use in my coaching practice. I’m now in a position to provide
a rational neuroscientific explanation for the interventions I make. I’ve moved
from “Trust me – I’m the coach” to “Here’s the explanation for why this will
work”. I’m off to do the course!’
John Leary-Joyce, CEO of Academy of Executive Coaching
‘Amy Brann’s passion for her subject leaps off the pages of this book. It’s accessible
for non-scientists, and full of juicy suggestions for how to apply neuroscientific
findings to the real world of coaching.’
Liz Hall, editor of Coaching at Work
iii
Neuroscience
for Coaches
iv
THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
v
Neuroscience
for Coaches
How to use the
latest insights for
the benefit of
your clients
Amy Brann
vi
Publisher’s note
Every possible effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this book
is accurate at the time of going to press, and the publishers and author cannot accept
responsibility for any errors or omissions, however caused. No responsibility for loss or
damage occasioned to any person acting, or refraining from action, as a result of the ma­
terial in this publication can be accepted by the editor, the publisher or the author.
First published in Great Britain and the United States in 2015 by Kogan Page Limited
Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as
permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be repro­
duced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing
of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms and
licences issued by the CLA. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside these terms should be
sent to the publishers at the undermentioned addresses:
2nd Floor, 45 Gee Street 1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100 4737/23 Ansari Road
London EC1V 3RS Philadelphia PA 19102 Daryaganj
United Kingdom USA New Delhi 110002
www.koganpage.com India
© Amy Brann, 2015
The right of Amy Brann to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in
accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
ISBN 978 0 7494 7237 5
E­ISBN 978 0 7494 7236 8
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Brann, Amy.
Neuroscience for coaches : how to use the latest insights for the benefit of your clients /
Amy Brann.
pages cm
ISBN 978­0­7494­7237­5 (paperback) – ISBN 978­0­7494­7236­8 (ebk) 1. Personal coaching.
2. Neurosciences. 3. Performance–Psychological aspects. I. Title.
BF637.P36B73 2014
158.3–dc23
2014027033
Typeset by Graphicraft Limited, Hong Kong
Print production managed by Jellyfish
Printed and bound by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon CR0 4YY
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INDEX 204
viii Contents
05 Amygdala 33
What is this brain area? 34
Why is it important to me as a coach? 36
What can I do with a client now having understood this? 37
06 Anterior cingulate cortex 38
What is this brain area? 39
Why is it important to me as a coach? 40
What can I do with a client now having understood this? 41
07 Hypothalamus 42
What is this brain area? 43
Why is it important to me as a coach? 43
What can I do with a client now having understood this? 44
08 Hippocampus 45
What is this brain area? 46
Why is it important to me as a coach? 47
What can I do with a client now having understood this? 48
Part twO Brain chemicals 49
Discover the communication molecules of your mind 49
09 Cortisol 51
What is this brain chemical? 51
Why is it important to me as a coach? 51
What are some scenarios where knowing about this would enable
me to best serve my client? 52
What can I do with a client now having understood this? 53
10 Dopamine 55
What is this brain chemical? 55
Why is it important to me as a coach? 55
What are some scenarios where knowing about this would enable
me to best serve my client? 57
What can I do with a client now having understood this? 57
Contents ix
11 Oxytocin 59
What is this brain chemical? 59
Why is it important to me as a coach? 59
What are some scenarios where knowing about this would enable
me to best serve my client? 60
What can I do with a client now having understood this? 62
12 Adrenaline 64
What is this brain chemical? 64
Why is it important to me as a coach? 64
What are some scenarios where knowing about this would enable
me to best serve my client? 65
What can I do with a client now having understood this? 66
13 Serotonin 67
What is this brain chemical? 67
Why is it important to me as a coach? 68
What are some scenarios where knowing about this would enable
me to best serve my client? 69
What can I do with a client now having understood this? 70
14 GABA and glutamate 71
What are these brain chemicals? 71
Why are they important to me as a coach? 72
Part three Foundational brain concepts 73
15 Neurons and synapses 75
What are they? 75
Why are they important to me as a coach? 76
16 Neuroplasticity 77
What is it? 77
Why is it important to me as a coach? 78
17 Threat response 81
What is it? 81
Why is it important to me as a coach? 81
The neuroscience of the threat response 82
Suggestions 83