Dr. Ellen Weber is the author on BrainBasedBusiness.com, our blog on benefiting at work using brain based insights. She is also the director of the MITA International Brain Based Center in Pittsford, N.Y. Dr. Weber was recently interviewed and prominently featured in an article in the March issue of HR Magazine published by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). The article is the cover story for the magazine and is entitled “The Brain at Work,” written by Adrienne Fox. SHRM is the world’s largest professional association devoted to human resource management; HR Magazine is the largest HR journal in the world, being distributed to 125 countries.

“The Brain at Work” is subtitled “Science is shedding light on why people behave the way they do and how to better manage them.” Dr. Weber is a prominent and established expert in applying brain based insights to business. An internationally-sought speaker, she has published dozens of articles in journals, periodicals, and newspapers on the topic of using more brain for smarter solutions. In this article she is quoted and referred to at length, imparting her knowledge and understanding of the brain’s effect on work performance. For example:

Social fairness and respect also help employees learn. “If a manager shows interest in employees, supports them and praises them genuinely, he ‘squirts’ a chemical called serotonin into their brains,” says Weber. Serotonin opens employees’ minds to ideas, and creates desires to get to know managers better and to support whatever the managers need done.

However, Weber continues, “If you diminish me, you ‘squirt’ cortisol into my brain that shuts it down and closes it off to new ideas and my willingness to help you.”

SHRM has a sharp interest in the brain’s impact on workplace environments, employee productivity, and its ability to rejuvenate workplaces. Dr. Weber’s inclusion in the cover story article for HR Magazine is a wonderful and well-deserved occurrence for her. We are delighted for her, and are so pleased to have her in our business blog network.