Many people have different ideas on human excellence. In the East, excellence is not just being the best, the fastest, the brightest or the richest .. harmony and social success are equally important measurements of excellence in their eyes. So, we all think about excellence in different ways. Companies may think about their market share, profits, whilst there is a growing culture within business starting to take hold of having a true and valid purpose. So, there are actually many views of excellence both personal and organisational – and we all can achieve excellence in different ways – for certain types it is through great leadership; others by being good followers; some by caring for the needy; many by being good teachers; for the creative it may be inventing a different approach or possibly developing the next masterpiece. All different types of human excellence, but how are they achieved. Is there a secret that covers them all?
Yes, the secret is the human brain. Whatever the type of excellence we are endeavouring to achieve, the results are directly based upon the way the human brain functions. Boosting the brain’s performance is the foundation for improvement in whatever areas of excellence we pursue. This is true for all human tasks, roles or processes, including sports and athletics. The brain is at the hub of the performance and determines the outcome. If it is poorly prepared due to lack of nourishment or sleep, the body will not operate at its most efficient. If it is distracted or unfocused, the co-ordination or decision process will be below standard. If the wrong attitude is used when performing a task, the outcome will be impaired. An optimised brain is the secret to human excellence.
Fortunately, we have learnt more about the brain in the last 5 years than in the last 5,000. Neuro-science has now revealed the key aspects to the way the human brain functions, learns, decides and ultimately rewards itself for what it deems as excellence. New research has indicated that the brain is totally goal orientated and views excellence as getting the maximum reward with the least effort. This may seem very ‘self-centred or materialistic’ but this is now a neuro-scientific fact. The way we have evolved over time determines that the brain must use the least amount of effort because the human thought process is such an enormous energy drain on the body. Even though the brain is very small compared to the other body parts it consumes 20% of our energy when we are just resting. Therefore to help reduce the effort required we tend to repeat the task or practice to become proficient at the required steps or process. Once the body starts to assimilate a good technique to perform the required action, it becomes measurable so as to be able to judge the output, plus the task also becomes predictable and repeatable. It also starts to take much less energy to perform as the steps become optimised. This ultimately improves the brain’s reward to energy ratio. A major factor in the pursuit of human excellence.
However, the amount of reward the brain provides itself for performing the same series of steps, or achieving exactly the same goal diminishes over time. Take solving the Rubiks cube puzzle. After hours of trying, you first complete the puzzle and you feel immense satisfaction possibly letting off a big ’yes’! But after solving it two or three times, little pleasure is gained. The brain does not reward you anything like as much after the twentieth time. This demising reward drives us to take the next challenge. Or to look for ways to improve on the output. To reach out for the next goal or the same one quicker, faster with less effort. By improving or adapting is the only way we can maintain the high level of reward the brain strives for. That’s why the human race is in a constant race – to complete the next goal, to do things better, quicker, or smarter. Our brains are addicted to adaptation.
However, through other neuro research we also now know that the way the human brain rewards itself for performing as an individual to achieve a goal is not as strong as the reward our brains receive for achieving as a group or doing something positive for other members of the group – so ‘giving’ is actually more rewarding for the brain than winning alone. This increased social reward includes not only our direct family, friends and pets but also the environment as a whole. Consequently, the size of the reward is dependent not just on achieving the goal, but its positive impact on the surrounding social group and environment.
Human excellence is using the minimum effort to achieve the highest reward for the group, including the environment.
New neuro research and insights are now providing completely new ways to help improve the brain’s performance. We just need to understand more about the brain and apply these new discoveries – just like sports science did for the rest of the body. Many of these new theories and findings have been applied within the core principles and philosophy of the Theory of Human Excellence. These new discoveries are revolutionary and have a dramatic impact on performance in all areas. The theories and techniques can help to improve focus, aid learning, supplement decision criteria or methods for the particular types of thought, and recognise areas or techniques that can help alleviate errors. Using the Theory of Human Excellence individuals will maximise the performance of their brain function to complete tasks with improved efficiency and effectiveness so that they achieve their goals for both the individual and the group exerting the minimum energy in a sustainable manner, which is .. human excellence.
Terry Wilcox
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