by ICA student Himani Tyagi, Ph.D

Your Brain at Work by David Rock is an interesting book with extremely rich content! Utilizing recent research in Neuroscience, Rock derives practical and useful insights for our everyday functioning.

It is impressive how the vast amount of complex information is simplified so skillfully so that anyone and everyone can understand and benefit from it! Being a scientist turned coach, I was on the lookout for a resource that would provide a thorough, research-based grounding to my coaching practice. This book provides a scientific and logical basis to conventional wisdom, which some of us so crave!

It is easy to get overwhelmed in today’s fast paced life with difficult situations presenting themselves one after the other, both at home and work. In Rock’s presentation, situations are played out in normal day to day work and home life, and then replayed when the characters have learned to utilize brain based tools/strategies to optimize their functioning.

Great analogies make it easy to grasp and remember the structure and function of different parts of the brain. At the end of each chapter, the author summarizes the key findings about the brain and the tools derived from the findings. This in itself makes this book worthwhile!

All in all, intelligent information is presented with humor and warmth. The author has touched relevant difficult issues like multitasking, handling distractions, overcoming roadblocks, coming to terms with uncertainty and drama, facilitating change.  Your Brain at Work could be of enormous help to all in the workforce, especially those in leadership roles; not only in managing employees but in managing their own selves.

What’s the science behind coaching? Ask us.