Neuro-Science and the Remote Workforce

We’ve all experienced it.  Those ‘aha’, ‘eureka’, ‘holy cow’, or ‘I gotta write this down’ moments.  That feeling we have when solving, discovering, and creating is a thrill universally desired and pursued.

Science tells us that dopamine is the chemical in the brain that frees us from inhibitions and motivates us to new experiences.  When we’re ‘in the zone’, ‘killin it’, or ‘on the jam’ (ok, I just exceeded my street cred clichés) it’s dopamine giving us that push, that drive, that excitement.  It is the chemical that ‘pumps us up’ to achieve goals, try something new, and think outside the box.

But dopamine is not an independent player and has to have the right conditions to appear (kinda like Adele).  Oxytocin has been referred to as the catalyst or channel…maybe red carpet….for dopamine.  It is oxytocin that prepares you and dopamine that gets you focused.

So what does that have to do with our subject of remote workforce you ask?  Great question!

Stated simply…ok, very simply…oxytocin is released in response to ‘feel good’ activities.  Positive social interactions in our daily lives will activate our neurobiological system (I eventually had to use a big science word) to release oxytocin.

Other workplace activities might include face to face interaction with the team, conversational coffee with coworkers, and even handshakes and hugs…yes, some people actually hug at work.

Combined with situations where problems have to be solved, breakthroughs are needed, or new products have to be created, the remote workforce is less likely to be as creative, innovative, uninhibited, or driven to the same degree as those physically working together.

Beyond the exhilarated victories and successes it promotes, oxytocin can bring anti-stress-like benefits such as reducing blood pressure, reducing cortisol and protecting the immune system.  To greatly simplify (once again) positive social interaction has the potential to improve one’s health and well being!

I know what you’re thinking, great article Rick! Ok, that’s probably not what you’re thinking.  You want to know how to get those remote teams into the office and make these ‘feel good’ activities happen.  What a wonderfully insightful question!  A question to be addressed at another time.

Created in collaboration with Cindy Barnhill MS, APRN, CNS