The more we understand about how the brain works the more almost magical it appears.  At one time we had a very mechanical view of the brain in that section A controlled sight and section B over there managed the left thumb. Norman Doidge is a doctor and an author who has helped us realize that the brain and our very understanding of our mind is much more nuanced, complex and wonderful.  In his late (ish) book, The Brain’s Way of Healing [1] he takes us through a series of case studies and current understanding of the brain.

Read My Crib Notes

I thought the subject matter of the book interesting enough to jot down some crib notes which are available in a previous blog, Book: The Brain’s Way of Healing.  If you are not up to reading the whole book, feel free to peak over my shoulder at my crib notes.

How Is a Brain Like Your Organization

In many ways our understanding of organizations and the brain have taken parallel tracks.  Historically we knew that they both accomplished things but their exact roles and processes were complete mysteries.  As science, engineering and society has evolved we have gone through periods of understanding in the context of the time.

In the earliest times it was an absolute mystery.  As western medicine evolved, the brain was seen as a mechanical organ with specializations.  In parallel, organizations were being understood from a mechanical model through the work of such titans as Frederick Taylor (Scientific Management).  During the 1950’s to 1990’s the workings of the brain went from a mechanical view to one of a highly integrated system with the ability of one part taking over the function of a defunct section of the brain – the basis for the science of neuroplasticity.  At the same time organizations evolved from a hierarchical function based structure to adopting a more agile team based one.

Today we have a profound understanding of the workings of the brain.  Among those understandings is the realization that skills, thoughts and memories are not fixed in anyone spot or location but are held collectively within a larger neural system.  Ultimately this distributed model is much more robust and resilient than the strictly mechanical model – although infinitely more complex as well.

A Good Read and Final Lessons for Organizations

So if you enjoy the bio sciences (or even want a better understanding of how your noggin’ works) then take a read of Doidge’s book.  If you want to be a better manager then recognize that how the organization works is likely invisible to you – just like that memory or skill in your own brain.  While you may not have direct control you can also nurture and support this reality be establishing effective structures, resources and then stand back to be amazed what good people can do.

[1] The Brain’s Way of Healing: Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries from the Frontiers of Neuroplasticity. Norman Doidge (Author)