A Neuroscientist’s Guide to Reclaiming Your Brain Flashcards
Trajectory
noun
The path or direction someone is following in their life and/or career
* To accelerate your career trajectory, consider taking on more leadership responsibilities.
* After overcoming significant challenges, his life trajectory shifted toward self-improvement and helping others.
Formative years
noun
The early stages of life, typically childhood and adolescence
* Teachers play a critical role in shaping students’ values during their formative years.
* Growing up in a multicultural environment during her formative years instilled a deep appreciation for diversity.
Nuanced communication
adjective - noun
The expression of messages with subtlety and sensitivity
* In international negotiations, nuanced communication is critical to avoid misunderstandings.
* She used nuanced communication to address the team’s concerns without causing alarm.
Exacerbate
verb
To make a problem, situation, or condition worse
* His rude comments only served to exacerbate the tension in the room.
* Ignoring the team’s concerns may exacerbate the conflict and lead to lower morale.
Step outside the realms of …
verbal phrase
To go beyond the boundaries, limits, or scope of a particular subject, area, or field
* The proposal seems to step outside the realms of our current strategy, but it could open up new opportunities.
* The company decided to step outside the realms of its traditional product line by introducing a new tech service.
Go on to the real world
verbal phrase
Transitioning from adolescence into adulthood, where one must face the challenges of everyday life
* After graduation, she was excited to go on to the real world and start her career in finance.
* College prepares students with knowledge, but they truly learn when they go on to the real world.
Persona
noun
The outward image that a person presents to others, which may differ from their true self
* As a CEO, her persona is confident and authoritative, but she’s much more relaxed at home.
* His persona as a tough entrepreneur hides the fact that he’s deeply empathetic and supportive of his team.
Confirmation bias
noun
The tendency to favor information that supports one’s existing beliefs
* The researcher’s confirmation bias led them to ignore data that didn’t support their hypothesis.
* Confirmation bias made the marketing team ignore feedback that didn’t match their idea.
Perpetuate
verb
To cause a problem or negative situation to continue
* Spreading false information can perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
* Investing in outdated technology will only perpetuate the company’s struggles to compete.
Left unchecked
verbal phrase
Something is allowed to continue or worsen without control
* If the issue is left unchecked, it could lead to serious consequences for the company.
* Rising costs, when left unchecked, can severely impact a business’s profitability.
A template
(to how one sees the world)
noun
A mental model shaping how you see the world
* A leader’s upbringing can create a template for how they view workplace hierarchy and decision-making.
* The CEO’s years in a start-up environment became a template for how he approached innovation.
Ingrained
adjective
Something has been deeply established or firmly fixed
* The habit of punctuality has been ingrained in her since childhood.
* These values have been ingrained in the company’s culture over decades.
Metacognition
noun
The awareness and understanding of one’s own thinking processes
* Developing metacognition allows leaders to recognize their biases and make more thoughtful decisions.
* Our team discussed metacognition to improve how we approach problem-solving and decision-making.
Neurotypical / Neurodivergent
adjective
Neurotypical: Brain functions and behaviors that align with societal norms.
Neurodivergent: Brain functions and behaviors that differ from the norm.
* The workplace offers support for both neurotypical and neurodivergent employees to ensure inclusivity.
* She’s neurodivergent, which means she processes information differently from neurotypical people.