How Thinking Can Change the Brain
Copyright Jack Mixner. 714 449 1040. www.mixnerstrategy.com
Scientists "borrowed" Tibetian monks and lamas to understand if directed thought during meditation lastingly increased compassion and empathy. Subjects were repeatedlly scanned using fMRI. The study compared changes in compassion and empathy to a non-meditating group of control subjects.
Two key points: Meditation changes brain chemistry related to compassion and empathy. Those changes are longlasting (Begley).
Empathy is a useful trait in an emotionally mature leader. It helps you understand you team better. It helps you understand your customers better, as well as yourself. The ability to know how another feels is a useful sales - and management - trait.
Looks to me like empathy and compassion can be learned. Increasing these measures of emotional intelligence (Goleman, page 97) might increase the functionality - and results - of a team in growing a company.
The values of empathy and compassion might be good personal values. They might be good for your company, as well.
References
Begley, Sharon. How Thinking Can Change the Brain. Wall Street Journal. 19 January 2007. B1.
Goleman, Daniel. Emotional Intelligence. Bantam. 1995.