Learn to Think in Color

How does Institutional Memory act as a constraint on current Meaning-making? Why yesterday’s stories quietly limit tomorrow’s interpretations Big-picture framing Institutional memory is the shared store of stories, norms, and “how we do things here” that lives in an organization’s people, processes, and artifacts. It doesn’t just preserve the past; it shapes how people interpret the present. That means institutional memory can quietly constrain current meaning-making by narrowing which questions feel askable, which data seems credible, and which options feel “realistic.” In this piece, we’ll unpack how institutional memory guides sensemaking, when it becomes a trap, why the “five monkeys and a ladder” parable keeps getting retold, and how to work with memory deliberately rather than unconsciously. Institutional Memory as an Invisible Operating System Think of  institutional memory  as the operating system running in the background of a team or organization. You don’t see it di...

How do questions work? January 13, 2025 | Communication, Creativity, Innovation, Life Long Learning, Problem Solving, Question a Day Question a Day   The Science and Art of Questioning: Unlocking Curiosity and  Insight Introduction Questions shape civilizations. From Socrates challenging Athenian norms to today’s scientific breakthroughs, the ability to ask meaningful questions drives human progress. But why are questions so powerful, and how can we master them to learn, grow, and lead? The Neuroscience of Questioning Asking questions activates multiple areas of the brain. When you ask a question, your  prefrontal cortex  (responsible for complex thought) collaborates with the  hippocampus  (memory) and the  anterior cingulate cortex  (processing new information). This dynamic interplay creates a “knowledge gap”—a state that primes your brain for curiosity and learning. The Curiosity Pathway Dr. Matthias Gruber’s research at UC Berkeley shows that...