In this neural episode, Carlos Davidovich, TedX speaker, neuroscientist, and management coach, shares how his decades of experience help his clients’ performance improved individual and organizational performance and increased personal satisfaction.
You will discover:
– How to recognize the distinct voices your brain uses to keep you safe
– Why the human brain is incapable of making a 100% rational decision
– What the neuroscience says about how you should reply to an email
Episode Transcript
Scott Ritzheimer
Hello Hello and welcome welcome once again to the secrets of the high demand coach and you are in for an absolute treat today because I have the one and only Carlos Davidovich who was raised and educated in Argentina and he’s been living and working between Europe the USA and Canada for over 20 years he has become an executive coach giving workshops on and lectures on neuro management, applying neuroscience in organizations and businesses. And you’ll see that’s a bit of an understatement because he’s also the professor of neuro management in the MBA programs for places like University of New York, in Prague, Czech Republic at GE a in Slovenia. He’s also a guest lecturer for the Master’s in Leadership program at the Lang School of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph. I think I said that right. And a thought leader with the Institute of coaching at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School affiliate. And Carlos, first off, wow, what a rap sheet here. You clearly know what you’re doing. And so as I was researching for the episode, you know, I just had question after question. I’m jumping ahead of myself here, because I’m excited. But first, before we get to all of that, just add a little bit of color to this background for how did you know all of these experiences lead you to helping managers to employ neuroscience in their work?
Carlos Davidovich
That is a great question. First of all, I want to say thanks, Scott, for the invitation, because I’m delighted to be here. It’s fantastic podcast, I did all my research as well. So congratulation for your work. How I get today’s first of all, I will tell you through an anecdote, I’m MD, so and I worked as MD for many years. And today is not unusual that people ask me a your medical doctor, what are you doing, coach? I mean, when do you must be missing your work as a doctor? And my answer, of course, thinking through time, is I’m still doing the same. Because the final goal in medicine is to support people to heal in one way. And what we do as a coach is similar, maybe in different Rearm, but it’s similar, you need to support people to get better in whatever they want to get better. Medicine, of course, is sign same terms. IUD men give medication as is a different, let’s say, logistic. But in the end, that final a goal is to support people to try to work together through a pause that will put them in a better place. I don’t know if I was able to explain myself.
Scott Ritzheimer
That’s good. That’s good. So let’s let’s kind of pull these worlds together. We’ve got lots of folks who are founders, leaders, managers inside of your organization’s they feel like they run about 1000 miles an hour. Why? Why does this idea like how does neuroscience matter to busy leaders that are trying to lead their organizations forward today?
Carlos Davidovich
You know, better than me Scott that in this world of business, I will say the rational part of our brain is quite important. Because we need to make a decision we need to analyze properly. And to arrive to the to the right directions. What I found out through my work is how much people need to understand better how the system works. I mean, it’s like a okay, this, this is the tools that you have, let’s talk about the brain. And more, you know, in a practical way, okay, don’t get me wrong. This is not about too, too deeply neuroscience about neurons and law stuff now that is now useful. But in a practical way, more we know about the tool that we are using every day is better. Because then you can understand behavior, you can understand reaction of people, you can understand how to approach them better in a more productive way. So what I’m trying to do the business world is a way I will see a doorway for better understanding differently need for better doing.
Scott Ritzheimer
Yeah, so even just the word neuroscientist is probably intimidating to a lot of folks, right? Like that, that says like, do I need to now like I’m learning all this stuff to lead a business I feel most days like I need an MBA now I need to you know, get my, my doctorate. So, you know, again, I love the your ability to make these things simple. So do that for us. And specifically in this idea of neuro management, right, employing neuroscience in management. What’s that? What is that and what’s a simple step that we could take today?
Carlos Davidovich
Excellent. I mean, they were the management is the best word because there’s no other one and it’s just connecting to words, you know, neuroscience and business does they were a bunch. But you say a soul I mean back on what you say? Because people say no, can I come on? I don’t want to complicate my life, I want to make it simple. And then when I say is exactly what I want to do for you, I mean to make it simple. And this is normal understanding the core of the brain. No, no, it’s all about, it’s about human behavior. And then I, for instance, all my workshops or lectures are based in regular business situations. And then that you can identify yourself with and then I will ask, okay, what were the the roadblocks or the barriers, whatever, what I can bring to the table is to explain your why. And to understand the why will take you to how to overcome these things. In my coaching practice, what I always discuss with my clients is, okay, that’s the way you explain X and Y situation, I will bring another interpretation and least capacity to change the perspective is already, I will say, the revolution in the brain, because many times we are so much one track mind, you know, we see things in one way that the one I say Lisa is in your brain, that part of your brain is stuck in now. So is looking for this results, maybe is not the most productive to you, let’s try to walk this different path. So in the end, is showing the map? And then is the decision on my client to decide to walk that path yes or no? Makes sense?
Scott Ritzheimer
It does. So just continuing on that thought of being able to reshape what is maybe an exercise or a way of communicating that folks can start to employ your just as they go about their day today.
Carlos Davidovich
Yeah, I like to in I gave I was lucky enough to give a TED Talk, TEDx talk. And I present a model that I call metaphorically as a leader, you need to first understand your internal team. And in which all of us we have an interest different voices inside everybody identify with that work on recognizing the different narratives, that is a nice word. And then explain what are those characters about one is of course, the rational mind is very rational, analyze everything, following processes. But the most powerful of the most I will say, a determine in our daily life are our emotions, we like it or not. What he says human brain is not prepared to make 100% rational decision cannot. So then wow, we I need to understand my emotion. So try to understand the language of your emotions, right or the cell dinero. Another team member in our internal team from our internal team, or our agency instead. So fight flight, or freeze. I mean, just kill or be killed. I mean, it’s very black and white. And you see it so much in, in general, and the business world as well. And also, the another component is intuition that intuition is no magic is a quite it’s a process is the more sophisticated Google ever goes with. It’s the way it works. We’re not going to say an impractical way based on your questions, God is still listening to yourself and you will start little by little identifying different voices. And in the end, it’s your choice to pick which one you will follow. Make sense? So but be aware, that is not about that this? This happens to me and I don’t know why No, no way Wait, you can control that. You can be in charge. And more, more in control, we feel we feel better, of course better. I mean that we can do better things in God’s sense. So then think just listen to yourself. There’s no other exercise. You don’t need to go meditate. Don’t just listen to yourself. And you will start identifying those characters and pick which one is the most helpful in each moment? Because not always they are trying to help us.
Scott Ritzheimer
So that brings me to a question. How is it that our brains especially when we’re on autopilot have a tendency to trip us? Where do they trip us up? And how does that limit our success?
Carlos Davidovich
Remember, they chose not to go deeper on these but we haven’t eaten them brains. So different parts of the brain sort of tying out today they’re all intertwined. You know, I mean, the brain is quite adaptive. But there is one that is still is very powerful. That is the instinctual brain and is the one that will trigger the soul why? Well, and it was useful to us for millions and millions of years, because was the way to be alive to keep us alive. But maybe today they’re not, it’s not for us. So take care. This is a typical, you know, the typical same. When you receive an email you like, or somebody saying something that you don’t like, just count until 10. And then respond, you’re not that typical say, that is not just a legend, this has a scientific support, because it’s to let that information will reach the rational brain, the instinct can come down, or you will respond in an infinite way. What I’m trying to say is don’t feel don’t follow that first reaction that was created by through many, many, many millions of years, to defend ourselves, and not necessary today. Our company?
Scott Ritzheimer
Wow, yeah, it’s so good. It’s so good. So you have this idea of five brain leadership. And so the question that that makes was one, I thought I had one brain so help us out with that. Now, you’ve kind of alluded to this throughout our conversation, and then to how many brains do you really need to run an organization? How does that work?
Carlos Davidovich
I love that question, Scott. That’s not easy you cannot get away from them. And they work in team, you know, I mean, so we need what is it may be that was not the way you formulate the question, but maybe the question I can is, what is the right formula to deal with all our being you know, I presented as a brain different breaks because we have neurons here, we have to be honest in our heart near as in our guts, so those are the different breaks. What is the perfect formula? Now that birthing the most productive formula? Let’s let’s take perfection outside out of the equation. The formula is identify with your positive emotions positive emotion doesn’t mean everything’s okay. Okay, that is not correct, because no true positive emotion is or being positive is I will try to find a solution period maybe I don’t feel okay maybe I mean, I’m not happy that’s Mr. But I will go for the solution. And I will stop complaining or blame victim for instance. So, the formula is identify a positive emotion that will take the lead at the moment the positive emotion is the while leading the rational brain will give the best in the way to analyze processor because we are numb and then we can we can really rely on those analysis make sense? Yeah. Leave listen and I will put it quite listen to your inner in intuition is that voice or come from nowhere? But it means many times is a source of information since lease. I will seem fall all the time what it says much is the lease and leave the instinctual part the instinctual brain the reptilian brain liberties for emergencies when there is a drama, okay. But if you want to be effective, lead your rational brain through positive emotions emotional that will put you in a good place and then you will take really the best of our rationality that is amazing. But also can be hijack hijacked by by the instinctual brain and then is not helping.
Scott Ritzheimer
Wow, I love that if you want to be effective lead your rational brain with the positive emotions and there’s so much power in that so I’m not I’m not quite sure how you taught that but I’ve got another question for you here and least I like to ask all my guests and it’s it’s this what is the biggest secret that you just wish was the secret at all? Well, what’s that one thing that you wish everybody watching or listening today knew?
Carlos Davidovich
You mean that they will see or know about me?
Scott Ritzheimer
No, no just about if you were to say hey, I want to sum up what I feel like I’m trying to convey to my clients to those that are listening. What would that what is that secret beneath it that you wish that they knew and understood?
Carlos Davidovich
Wow, that is very profound question love it is stop relying on your past and and fully understand that we are always moving to the future. So don’t complain, think to learn what to be adaptable means. I will try to explain myself because it’s very important that most of the biggest conflicts are because people are attached to what they know in the way they do things I always done it in that way you know that guy you know always please break a pattern and the parent doesn’t need to not to it was useful to me but break the pattern because life is we like it or not we hate it by the way life is change is change I tell you is a cliche but it’s true that’s the problem. And nowadays and through the pandemic was so obvious that we wish is the only option the only chance that we had is to be open and to see okay what is coming because uncertainty was at the top and of course we want to survive it then we need to be open to what is coming make sense and in business you know, I work with one concept that is called the new cue the adaptability, quotient, AQ. So now IQ, EQ, AQ. and is more complex and resilience is how I can grow or with the new stuff that is coming because there’s no way out.
Scott Ritzheimer
Yeah, well so good. So good. All right, so I’m gonna be shift gears a little bit I’m gonna have you take off your neuroscientist lecture or coach and and mentor hat I’m gonna have you put on your CEO hat a few words. What’s the next stage of growth look like for you as a leader and what challenge will you have to overcome to get there?
Carlos Davidovich
Okay, as a CEO, I will like really to multiply myself through others. So by now I work by myself. But definitely I will love to work with other coaches, let’s say consult a consultant and to be able to not only to replicate what I learned but also to grow together and then I can see the image and let’s see like a golfer the team or coordinate a company I don’t care, but something that will really be able to expand this and to impact more people.
Scott Ritzheimer
Well Carlos. Just a fantastic time what a conversation. I feel like I’ve learned so much I don’t know how to take it all in but I thank you so much for being here. For those of you watching you’re listening you know that your time and attention means the world to us. I hope you got as much out of this conversation as I know I did. And I cannot wait to see you next time. Take care.
Contact Carlos Davidovich
Carlos was raised and educated in Argentina. He has been living and working between Europe, USA and Canada for over 20 years, where he has become an Executive Coach giving workshops and lectures on Neuromanagement, applying neuroscience in organizations and businesses. He is a professor of Neuromanagement in the MBA programs at the University of New York in Prague, Czech Republic, and at GEA in Ljubljana, Slovenia; a guest lecturer for the Masters in Leadership program at the Lang School of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph, and a thought leader with the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital, a Harvard Medical School affiliate.
Want to learn more about Carlos Davidovich’s work? Check out his website at carlosdavidovich.com, get a copy of his book ‘Five Brain Leadership’ at https://www.amazon.com/Five-Brain-Leadership-Neuroscience-Instincts/dp/1774582732 and his TEDx Talk ‘Five Brains’ at https://youtu.be/Uhk-JSgrGx0?si=PEWxMQ9XdZlxWlZE
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