HR Professional - August/September 2008 - (Page 23)

H U M A N CA P I TA L IMPROVING WORKING MEMORY IN THE WORKPLACE new form of rehabilitation in the area of neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to change itself, is offering employers an alternative to dismissal in dealing with employees who exhibit symptoms of impaired working memory. Working memory refers to the brain’s ability to temporarily store and manage information required to carry out complex cognitive tasks such as learning, reasoning and comprehension. It can be impaired by strokes, head injuries and even aging. According to a new study from Durham University in England, working memory problems affect 10 per cent of the population, but that number increases significantly in people over age 30. Symptoms of impaired working memory found in the workplace include incomplete projects, missed deadlines, poor organizational skills, forgotten instructions, difficulty in relationships with co-workers and other aspects of distraction. BY BRIAN ROGERS A Workplace change Up until 10 years ago, an employee exhibiting these symptoms would probably be dismissed, but new work in the ﬁeld of neuroplasticity is prompting change. “If you’re a busy person, under stress, working long hours and multi-tasking—all these factors can negatively affect your memory,” says 1. DOES THE PERSON HAVE A SHORT ATTENTION SPAN? Dr. Angela Troyer, Memory at Work program 2. ARE THEY EASILY DISTRACTED? director at Toronto’s Baycrest Hospital. “Meditation and relaxation exercises are effective for relieving 3. DO THEY FAIL TO MONITOR THE QUALITY OF THEIR WORK? stress because they allow the person to focus 4. DO THEY BECOME CONFUSED OR LOSE TRACK OF WHAT on one thing at a time. Hand-held electronic THEY ARE DOING? organizers and day planners are two aids that are effective for enhancing memory.” 5. DO THEY FORGET INSTRUCTIONS OR MESSAGES? The Memory at Work program also studies how memory works, the factors affecting memory, ways to improve memory through lifestyle changes When you factor in the costs of replacing an and improving memory with the use of practical employee who has built relationships within the memory strategies. company and externally with suppliers and clients, a program enhancing working memory can be well worth the investment. New hope Cogmed Working Memory Training is a softwarebased program originally designed to improve Brian Rogers, an independent HR consultant, has worked for several international firms, working memory in children with Attention Deﬁcit most recently with KPMG’s Strategic Human Resources Management Practice. Disorder. It recently expanded its program to include adults. “Before we even commence training,” says Cogmed practitioner and Oakville, Ont. psychologist Dr. Steve Barker, “we administer a short questionnaire to confirm the problem is working memory, screen out other possibilities such as depression and determine if the employee is a candidate who would benefit from the program.” (See sidebar) The Cogmed program requires 30 minutes a day for five weeks. “We see working memory improvements in 80 per cent of those who complete the program. In addition, other brain functions such as attention, reading and problem-solving skills also improve,” says Barker. Ross Coyles, a principal in Mercer’s human capital practice believes organizations can benefit from these types of programs if the corporate culture supports it. “It requires some forward-thinking to see this pool of talent as assets in which you have an investment and look for alternatives [to dismissal] within the organization.” IS YOUR MEMORY WORKING? QUESTIONS TO GAUGE IMPAIRED WORKING MEMORY SYMPTOMS w w w. HRT houghtLeader. c om A u g u s t / S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 8 23 http://www.HRThoughtLeader.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of HR Professional - August/September 2008

HR Professional - August/September 2008 Contents Editor's Letter Contributors Leadership Matters Upfront Legal Compensation Human Capital The New Frontier On Message Strategy HR 101 Interview with Annette Veschuren Talent Management Training Work/Life Balance Off the Shelf The Last Word

HR Professional - August/September 2008

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