I have just finished reading Spark by John J. Ratey and it is a fascinating book.

http://www.johnratey.com/site/default.aspx

Ratey explores the connection between exercise and the brain. He presents a convincing case that exercise not only is good for you physically but mentally. I have been also exploring this connection in my Speed Thinking sessions and have noted that having people doing short, sharp physical activities is not only energising but seems to open people up to new ways of thinking.

This reminded me of a note that a colleague sent to me about his experience with running and problem solving and decision making. I have reproduced below:

‘When I was at Levi Strauss & Co., we had an executive team that were world-class runners … and every day they would run out to the Golden Gate bridge and back. We all learned that if we wanted the undivided attention of some senior executive, we would have to go on the run with them … and be in good enough shape to run and talk (a very tall order). Some of us did that — I did; but we soon learned that there was something else going on that was even more important. We learned that if you framed a problem BEFORE you began to run, then used the time of the run to let it "sink in" and then spent some time right afterward discussing the problem that had been posed, the quality of the decision was far superior to what would have come out of countless meetings. We came to trust those decisions — and they were invariably better.

 

I don’t know if it was the endorphin rush or what … and I have NEVER seen any research on the relationship between problem-solving and big time exercise, but I know it was a rush all the way around. We were in better shape … and so was the company. 

 

So maybe, let’s invent running meetings as well!’

 

So getting off the lounge and exercising can be a wonderful new-year resolution–your body and your brain will love you for it.

 

Ken Hudson