Thought of the day that rings true

Just know your own mind, and you will grasp countless teachings and infinite subtle meanings without even seeking. That is why the World Honoured one said, Observing all sentient beings, I see they are fully endowed with the knowledge and virtues of Buddhas. He also said, All living beings, and all sorts of illusory events, are all born in the completely awake subtle mind of those who realise suchness.
- Chinul
(1158-1210)
Zen master

Five Powers that Get Ideas off the Ground

Also from the HBR BLOG.  Rosabeth Moss Canter set out how getting ideas off the ground can require a power surge. In years of detailed observation of successful leaders across sectors and fields, she has seen that getting the credibility to reach important goals comes from uplifting actions that increase five personal and organizational powers.

Your Most Helpful Colleague (Don't You Hate Him?)

From HBR blog. Wouldn't any group cherish a member who went above and beyond? It would seem self-evident that someone who behaved selflessly and in the interests of collective achievement would be a boon to the group's performance and happiness. Indeed, the Nobel laureate Herbert Simon argued in 1979 that such people are necessary in groups, if for no other reason than to give more self-oriented members someone to exploit. Consider the alternative, too: In a group consisting mainly of self-oriented people, the collective effort doesn't add up to much, and many tasks either go undone, or are done insufficiently.
Research suggests, however, that such selfless contributors are not so valued by their colleagues. In fact, they can inspire such negative reactions that others might believe the group would be better off without them. In a series of studies Asako Stone and I conducted, we found this to be the case: selfless people were almost as unpopular as their polar opposites, the very greedy people who contribute next to nothing but expect to reap the full reward of a group's success.

Brain Confidence: How Our Neurons Make Decisions

Great video in this article from the Big Think.

Neuroscience research is revealing how the chemistry and architecture of the brain make decisions for us, and how the brain's reaction to decision-making is based on confidence. Researchers has shown that a networked, hierarchical process is strung out across the brain to achieve these functions, even while specific neuron clusters are more active than others in helping us make decisions. 

While human-focused research uses leading-edge brain scans, some scientists are studying the neurology of decision-making in rodents because their brains are evolutionarily similar to those of humans.

Steve Denning - looks interesting - storytelling and leadership

Just had a fried introduce me to the work of Steve Denning.  Here is a link to Steve's website - looks interesting.  Like the tone and approach as I have seen some strong leaders use this approach and it worked.  Worth a look.

50 Acts that Enhance Novelty at Work

Bored at work and want to fire up the brain box - a great list of actions from Brain Leaders and Learners blog.  Here is a sample:

1 – Step up with confidence.

• Replace fears, fueled by dangerous cortisol, with confidence that comes through serotonin.

2 – Join a social media group.

• While brains default back to ruts, human minds also hold equipment for rejuvenation.

3 – Ask advice from a novice.

• Mind-bending revelations open to those who question, and curiosity enables adventure guided by great questions.

Four I's: Your true selves, really.

There's a new way of looking at the self that conforms more to what the scientific evidence suggests. We know we evolved, and that our fellow creatures, which also evolved, nevertheless don't seem to engage in searches for their true selves. Flies fly without every wondering why, without ever looking inside for the true source of their flight. Introspection, the ability to picture a true self, seems pretty much new with humans. Even with us, though, it doesn't consume our day. Watching TV, maintaining liver function, or simply breathing -- we have plenty of self-perpetuating habits that don't depend on self-awareness. Still, there's no family of words that roll off our tongues as readily as first-person singulars. "I," "me," "my" -- we speak of these things with great authority. In light of evolution, however, what do these words mean? Read the full article here.  
The article is by Jeremy Sherman MD.