How Business Leaders Can Harness the Power of Memory

In the fast-paced world of business, where decisions are made in the blink of an eye, a sharp memory is the secret weapon that separates great leaders from the rest. Building successful relationships with team members, customers, and clients hinges on the ability to recall crucial details and foster genuine connections. However, memory decline is a pressing concern for leaders, given the constant digital distractions and the erosion of relationships that result from forgetfulness.

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Unraveling the Impact of Digital Distractions on Memory

The ubiquity of smartphones and the incessant barrage of emails, Slack notifications, meeting invites, and never-ending messages pose significant challenges to leaders seeking to preserve their memory. Research indicates that individuals open their phones 58 times a day on average, spending three and a half hours online. As more and more of our business relationships move onto digital platforms, to Zoom calls with clients, and to managing remote employees, relying on our devices may hinder genuine learning and retaining of important details. 

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But memory also plays a key role in a leader’s ability to connect, explains Tansel Ali, an author and memory expert (he is a four-time Australian Memory Champion most famously known for memorizing two Yellow Pages phone books 24 days.) “Training your memory can help you become a more mindful leader. It will also give you the tools to ‘connect’,” he says. “Whether it is to people, goals, vision, mission, knowledge, anything you want to connect to, memory training will help.”

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Building the Memory Muscle: Exercise Your Body, Strengthen Your Mind

Memory is akin to a muscle that requires both mental and physical training for optimal performance. Physical exercise, even as little as 10 minutes a day according to a recent study, has been shown to improve cognition over time, particularly in working memory and executive processes like planning and organization, which are key leadership skills. Aerobically fit individuals may have more dense brain tissue, suggesting better overall brain health, and exercise activates skeletal muscles, releasing hormones that communicate with the brain and promote the growth and regeneration of brain cells associated with memory and cognition. In short, moving your body can literally grow your brain. 

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The good news is you don’t have to become an ultramarathoner to see these benefits. Any type of movement—from dancing to squats while watching TV, choosing the stairs, or walking a dog—can contribute to improved memory and brain health.

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We need mental exercises as much as physical movement for memory improvement, too. Activities such as crossword puzzles, reading, playing games, learning a musical instrument, and volunteering stimulate the mind and prevent memory loss. Experts recommend finding small ways to build this into your day, such as challenging yourself to remember how to get to the office without GPS, which can drastically improve your memory ability. 

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Fueling the Brain with a Healthy Lifestyle—and a List

While it might sound overplayed, making healthy choices in your day-to-day is proven to improve your quality of life, and yes, even your memory. Eating a balanced diet and actively managing chronic health problems, like high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity, as well as addressing issues like snoring, are essential for maintaining cognitive function. Quality sleep makes the list, too. 

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But we get it: you’re busy, overextended, trying to lead a business and make healthy choices and take care of your loved ones and—the list could go on! That’s why being organized is a potent weapon against forgetfulness for business leaders today. Keeping a notebook, calendar, or electronic planner, repeating entries out loud, and establishing designated places for essential items can prevent memory lapses and automate parts of your day that could cause cognitive lapses.

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Conclusion

Sharp memory is not just an asset in business; it's a prerequisite for effective leadership. Business leaders who invest time in understanding their learning styles, prioritizing information, and engaging in physical and mental exercises are better equipped to navigate the challenges of memory decline. By adopting these practical strategies, leaders can not only enhance their own cognitive abilities but also foster a culture of memory resilience within their teams, ultimately shaping a more successful and connected organization. Memory, as the rare and invaluable skill that it is, becomes a powerful tool for securing relationships, business, and jobs in the competitive world of leadership.

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Sources

Harvard Business Review

Medium

Prevention.com

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