Mirror neurons in coaching and leadership

This Monday I’m facilitating a discussion on mirror neurons and their relevance to coaching. It’s supported by the Neuroleadership Group in Auckland, and is timed to coincide with the start of leadership week. For full details check below, and please come along if you are interested.

How do we understand each other’s experiences in the world? This is a fundamental question relevant to coaching andleadership. Recent discoveries in neuroscience have uncovered cells that are active when we carry out an action, and when we observe someone else carrying out a similar action. These cells have been dubbed mirror neurons, and scientists think that they may hold the key to unraveling how we understand the actions of others. The properties of mirror neurons are intriguing, and recently more types have been discovered that activate only under very specific interaction conditions. In this session, researcher Jesse Pirini will present some of the most interesting research and theories about how mirror neurons contribute to successful interactions. Then as a group we will discuss the relevance of these ideas to leadership and coaching – in an effort to share our own experiences.

Jesse Pirini studies interaction using video, audio recordings and observation. He focusses on interactions where one person assists another. Jesse runs Pencilcase Tutoring (www.pencilcase.co.nz) where he applies his research by training tutors to work one-to-one with high school students throughout Auckland. He presents regularly at conferences and workshops on interaction, the brain, coaching and education. Jesse is currently a PhD candidate at AUT University in Auckland.

If you would like to come along and join this interesting discussion, please register as below:

Register:                                                     

Date: 25 June 2012

Time: 5.30pm – 7.30pm                                                   

Venue: Eden Gardens, Auckland

Fee: $20.00 to be paid on the evening to cover costs (cash and cheque only please)

RSVP: julieosullivan@neuroleadership.com by 15 June 2012 (I’m sure you can get a late rego in there if you want to come)