Out Front: Brain Training

Alberta Venture
Vol. 9 Issue 7 - September 2005

We know we need to keep our bodies in shape, but what about our brains? According to mental fitness consultant Guy Pilch, there are simple ways we can all improve our memory, mental flexibility and even creativity. Because of this fact, more and more businesses are turning to professional consultations to keep employees “mentally fit.”

“People aren't aware of what they can and ought to do to keep themselves going,” says Pilch who started Train the Brain Consulting in Victoria two years ago and recently came through Alberta on a speaking tour. His services focus on “helping healthy brains reach their potential” through a series of mental exercises.

Pilch shared one of his tips for stimulating a brain so that it can rapidly respond to new information from different sources. “Read something backwards for a few minutes,” he reveals. “Your brain has to work harder to make sense of things. It's like swinging two bats in the batting cage - your body compensates for the extra weight, so when you step up to the plate with only one bat, it feels light.”

Pilch says that although his services are aimed at improving memory, concentration and ability to handle stress in employees of all ages, many companies prefer to target the sessions at older, senior-level employees. “These employees have skills that are hard to replace, so companies want them to stay feeling fresh, excited and fulfilled.”

And as Pilch explains, the benefits are cumulative. “When an employee leaves work under less stress, they're less likely to be frazzled and have disagreements at home. Therefore when they come back to work the next day, they come in more rested, refreshed and fired up.”