L. Michelle Smith

How to engage your brain better

Are you too busy being busy in meetings to remember, let alone lead? The responses have been interesting across all of my platforms regarding how the brain remembers, but especially what one should do in meetings. As for the note taking, for context, this is the kind of task that lands on the “scribe” in the meeting, and typically more junior, often inequitably, female professionals. Sis, you have…

How stress can help you to remember details

Stop the note taking, Sis. I understand that you want to remember everything when you are in that meeting; but not only does this undermine your position as a leader, it doesn’t allow you to fully tap into your brain’s superpowers. Did you know that science has proven that the mere stress and adrenaline from key moments in time put your mind’s ability to remember in high-gear. In…

How to make your message memorable

Give them a reason to remember.  The science behind storytelling. Need your team to remember something? Here’s a hint: don’t simply give them a list. Give them a reason to remember. Tell a story. It’s not just more relatable, it helps your people to remember better. Today’s #NSCRockstarLeadership Tip of the Day explains the neuroscience behind memory. It’s also a great tip for you if you’re trying to…

How to get clearer on the monkey business

Can you see the 500,000 pound gorilla pacing your floor? Inattentive blindness can be a hindrance to you in the workplace because it causes us not to see the larger context when we are super focused on what is in front of us. Today’s #NSCJournalPrompt asks a probing question that will help you to be intentional when attempting to navigate the monkey business that happens in every workplace.…

Shift your perspective

Sometimes, what’s obvious isn’t what’s causing the problem. I remember once when there seemed to be a colleague hell-bent on my undoing. It was odd to me because until a certain point, I thought that we were good. In fact, it was so disturbing because this colleague seemed to be going to great lengths to undermine me, but I would learn eventually that what was obvious wasn’t the…

Handle your toxic boss with science

How do you handle a toxic boss? One tactic that many of them use is to keep you reacting, mainly to their requests. When you are reacting, you are not in control, and it is a great way to lose your focus which is paramount to your excellent performance. One of the primary complaints I get from clients about toxic bosses is that they fill their day with…

How to take your time back

Ready to take back your time? ⏲️ Let’s get focused. 👓 That means you need a plan. You can begin to be intentional about retraining your brain from distracted to more productive with today’s #NSCJournalPrompt. Break out your journals and start with your first step. Take back your time, Sis! You’re doing the most. Working smarter will render your work even more excellent, and you won’t lose your…

You’re being taxed twice. How will you reel it in?

I shared this with my Black women leaders and others in my private online community SLAYNET on Monday, and I think its worth sharing broadly here. In Tuesday’s #NSCRockstarLeadership Tip, we talked about competitive neuroplasticity, in other words, the way you train your brain to be more distracted when you attempt to “multitask.” Neuroscience has nicknamed this phenomenon the brain tax. How might this impact Black women leaders?…

How to be more focused

Are you the ultimate cause of your lack of focus? 🤪 You’re training your brain to be distracted. 🧠 Did you know that you might be training your brain to be more distracted by “multitasking”? It’s called competitive neuroplasticity, according to neuroscience, and it is the act of overloading your brain with too many processes. Your brain actually re-organizes itself, training your brain to shorten your attention span.…

The smartest way to enter a new role

  Start planning for your next 👏🏽 I know. It’s exciting, and you’ve wanted to be in this new role or on this big project for a while. You did it! Now it’s time to focus on the work before you. Absolutely. But, Sis, are you forgetting something? Sometimes we get to new roles and think that we will be there forever, or at least we act like…

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