Blue Zone Growth
Our brains, while comprising only 1-2% of our body mass, demand 20% of our metabolic resources. Interestingly, this 20% energy demand is relatively constant regardless of physical or mental states. This 'fixed' amount of energy use means that for one part of the brain to become active, another part of the brain must, to some degree, pull back on its activity.
We find it conceptually useful to identify two main subsystems of the brain that tend to compete in this way.
The Blue
Zone, largely identifying the prefrontal cortex of
the brain, can be thought of as the adaptive brain,
where the higher-order thinking occurs. It is the
part of the brain that makes us human and socially
oriented.
The Red Zone, largely associated with the amygdala and the limbic system, is responsive to things that trigger a 'survival' reaction. Inputs that trigger this system include fear, anxiety, ambiguity, unfairness, not being listened to and rejection amongst others. It is the part of the brain that causes us to take a strong self orientation.
The integration of new or contradictory information into learning and growth occurs in the blue zone, while the maintenance of the 'status quo' is red zone dominant.
We would
see the growth of the individual being underpinned
by a growing of their blue-zone capacity while
concurrently learning to manage down the red zone.
Unfortunately, many organisations are red-zone dominant: their systems, processes and policies cause members to operate more from their individual red zones.
Learning organisations are blue-zone dominant: any substantive and substantial growth of the individual (which underpins the growth of the organisation) has to occur from the blue zone in the first instance.
Interestingly, learning about the blue zone/red zone concept provides a simple 'brain language' for individuals and organisations. This provides a scaffold towards becoming a learning organisation.
Contact us if you would like to learn more about how this can apply to you or your organisation.
Our brains, while comprising only 1-2% of our body mass, demand 20% of our metabolic resources. Interestingly, this 20% energy demand is relatively constant regardless of physical or mental states. This 'fixed' amount of energy use means that for one part of the brain to become active, another part of the brain must, to some degree, pull back on its activity.
We find it conceptually useful to identify two main subsystems of the brain that tend to compete in this way.
The Red Zone, largely associated with the amygdala and the limbic system, is responsive to things that trigger a 'survival' reaction. Inputs that trigger this system include fear, anxiety, ambiguity, unfairness, not being listened to and rejection amongst others. It is the part of the brain that causes us to take a strong self orientation.
The integration of new or contradictory information into learning and growth occurs in the blue zone, while the maintenance of the 'status quo' is red zone dominant.
Unfortunately, many organisations are red-zone dominant: their systems, processes and policies cause members to operate more from their individual red zones.
Learning organisations are blue-zone dominant: any substantive and substantial growth of the individual (which underpins the growth of the organisation) has to occur from the blue zone in the first instance.
Interestingly, learning about the blue zone/red zone concept provides a simple 'brain language' for individuals and organisations. This provides a scaffold towards becoming a learning organisation.
Contact us if you would like to learn more about how this can apply to you or your organisation.