This week's tip is the first in a series of five derived from a neuroscience-based model which identifies the drivers of human behavior in interconnected environments like the workplace. The model, known as SCARF, stands for the domains of status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness and fairness. In each of these domains, the brain will naturally seek to minimize danger and maximize reward.

Status is defined as our importance relative to others. When we feel that we compare unfavorably to others, the brain releases cortical which increases the body's stress level. Conversely, when we feel good about ourselves and our status within a group, dopamine (a neurotransmitter related to reward and pleasure) increases in the brain, as do memory and information processing.

In the workplace, leaders can help employees maintain status by publicly recognizing contributions, decreasing competition among staff, and focusing on successes.

Rock, D. (2008). SCARF: A brain-based model for collaborating with and influencing others. NeuroLeadership Journal, 1(1), 296-320.