To Reach Your Goal, Take a NeuroStroll™: A Neuroscience Based Approach to Goal Achievement

Siegel and Pearce-McCall (2009) described the development of a new field of interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB). IPNB, based on the inter-disciplinary findings from over a dozen scientific disciplines, allows us to see the interconnection between the mind, brain, and relationships. With this integrated view of human experience, the need for a multi-modal approach to goal attainment becomes clear. In other words, to reach a goal, we need to do more than just think about it. We need to consider the complex interconnected system of our mind, body, and relationships both with ourselves and others.

The Study: Brief overview of the demographics of participants in the group and most important findings

Demographics

We conducted an initial pilot at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. The pilot was offered as one of the options in the launch of a new “Week 16 Innovations in Practice Seminar,” advertised as a requirement for all graduate students in the business school. We administered a pre- and post-survey to the 49 participants but did not receive enough post-survey responses for a meaningful analysis, most likely because the pilot was conducted with graduate students at the end of a semester. Responses received strongly suggested that the experience had a significant positive impact, and we used the qualitative feedback collected to streamline the design.

Three more pilots were held, one co-led by Dr. Marcia Ruben and Dr. Debra Pearce-McCall and the additional two by Dr. Marcia Ruben. These participants included:

• 22 staff and faculty at Golden Gate University
• 12 middle managers from an Austrian company visiting Golden Gate University for a week-long executive education program
• Seven doctoral students in a doctoral seminar at Golden Gate University

Approximately half of the participants identified themselves as male and half as female, with 44% between 24-39 years of age and 56% over 40 years of age. Pre and post surveys were completed by all groups. After preliminary analysis indicating that statistical assumptions were met for combining the samples, final results were obtained by analysis of grouped data from the three pilot samples. This also provided a broader sampling of participants regarding educational level, employment status, income, and residence place.