Mirror Neurons

Deep in our architecture, we are built to be together. A network of neurons in the brain called ‘mirror neurons’ are used by the human mind when it observes itself in the shoes of another individual. This is a special part of the brain whose job is to live in other people’s minds and bodies in order to adopt their point of views, understand their emotions, and to learn and grow from these interactions.

For example, an infant who is good at crawling has a strong activation in his or her own motor system when they see someone else crawling – this is because their mind is trying to mirror the action in order to learn how to crawl for themselves. When we learn to exercise this part of our own mind – by consciously putting ourselves in another’s shoes, rather than judging them – our ability to understand what that person is experiencing from within themselves increases. This skill can sharpen your physical intuitions, increase your knowledge, build an aura of emotional oneness with the ones around you, and could be the most pivotal step in helping you transform yourself from a good leader into a great one.

Written by: Student Doctor Navpreet Singh Badesha