The popularity of brain learning means more translations of neuroscience findings into perspectives on learning and development, specifically concerning communication skills. The BCL Institute defined six brain principles used in online training programs. How about adding another five?

António Damásio wrote about the relationship between brain, body and mind as early as 1994, in “Descartes’ Error.” In this century, David A. Sousa and John Medina translated Damásio’s work into perspectives on learning and development. We can extract tips from their findings to make your training programs more effective!

Learning Together With Mirror Neurons

As humans, we have been equipped with a social interaction system that allows us to learn by repeating what we observe. Even though we lose up to 30,000 neurons simply by aging, we can make hundreds of thousands of new synaptic connections by learning and by strengthening what we have learned. When we see someone performing an action, mirror neurons cause our brain to react the same way as when we’re doing it ourselves.

Exemplary behavior is therefore one of the strongest learning interventions: selectively imitating what you think is successful behavior, on a subconscious level, but also on a conscious level. This means that contact with other participants is very important. The same goes for online training: Video roleplays can also activate mirror neurons.

Developing Safely and Constantly

Our brain is a survivor, designed to solve new problems in a constantly changing environment. It’s better to offer a semi-constant flow of exercises than a few longer interventions. In addition, our cortex has been designed to work and build relationships with others.

We need to feel safe and comfortable to learn this way. Learners can develop this comfort in a group, but they could also start by doing certain activities independently, such as participating in a video roleplay before participating in a large group.

Learning in Chunks

Have you ever tried to read a book in front of the TV? You read more slowly, because your brain is distracted by moving images. After ten minutes, it will stray from those images as well. Knowing this about our brain, we should teach communication skills in small pieces.

Our brains code information in chunks to ensure retention. The more often you practice a certain situation, the more it will stay with you. Design your training programs to teach or build sub-skills in short amounts of time.

Using the Subconscious

99 percent of brain processes happen subconsciously. During sleep, our brains process and store new information from the day. The brain converts newly learned skills to set routines as soon as possible so that the subconscious can take over, and the conscious brain can use its limited capacity for other activities. For example, when you don’t have to consciously think about how to welcome someone or engage someone in conversation, you can focus better on their actual message.

Preventing Stress and Helplessness

Stressed brains learn and develop less quickly than non-stressed brains. They can handle stress for up to 30 seconds and even perform better because of it, but persistent stress can be fatal. The cause of stress could be other people, either at work or home, or learned helplessness, which occurs when we feel like we lack control over our work and actions. Learned helplessness not only causes the brain to learn less, but it also diminishes the ability to change behavior.

Are you applying these principles in your training programs – live or online?