© 2004 Maximum Performance Group, LLC Peak Achievement Training of the Top Executives of a Fortune 500 Company: Improvements in an EEG Measure of Concentration

© 2004 Maximum Performance Group, LLC2004 Maximum Performance Group, LLC

Peak Achievement Training of the Top Executives of a Fortune 500 Company: Improvements in an EEG Measure of Concentration

Col. (Ret.) Louis Csoka, Ph.D.Maximum Performance Group

Jonathan D. Cowan, Ph.D.Jonathan D. Cowan, Ph.D.

Peak Achievement TrainingPeak Achievement Training


Background

A Fortune 500 company has created a Peak Performance Center as part of their leadership development program. It was patterned after the program at the Center for Enhanced Performance at the United States Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. ‘s largest performance enhancement center, which was started by one of the authors (LC) in 1989.

Methods

The top 23 executives ata large corporation participated in a 20 session program, which included training on the FreezeFramer; respiration, EMG, and skin conductance preceding EEG training to enhance concentration, performed on the Peak Achievement Trainer. The executives participated in five hour-long sessions of Peak Achievement Training, consisting of individual coaching based on (with elaboration) the Peak Achievement Trainer's workbook, including about 35 minutes of practice on the InAll wideband suppression protocol per session. In the first and the last session, they were tested by measuring how long they could hold their InAll levels below 30 microvolts.


Results

During the pre-test, the first trial averaged 19 seconds, ranging from 10 to 40. The first trial in the post test was more than twice as long, 44 seconds, with the range running from 25 to 65 seconds. The average duration of the best trial per session almost doubled from 65 seconds at the pre-test to 128 seconds at post test. The ranges were 18 to 180 and 48 to 220, respectively. This is clear evidence of very rapid learning.

Conclusions

This is clear evidence of very rapid learning. Response to te program was overwhelmingly positive, with notable improvements in their ability to attend in crucial meetings, engage in critical performance appraisals with employees, and deliver exceptional presentations. These executives have returned voluntarily for many additional sessions, primarily using the Peak Achievement Trainer's ConAlert protocol, and the program is being expanded to 39 more executives. They are writing an article for Harvard Business Review.


The Performance EnhancementThe Performance Enhancement

The systematic application of performance enhancement skills has long been accepted and successfully applied in the world of sport. Its application in other arenas is yet to be fully realized. This brief overview reports on the successful development of a Peak Performance Center in a Corporate setting created to provide education and training in peak performance skills to business executives. The systematic and progressive approach to their training and development was based on a program developed at the US Military Academy at West Point in 1989 by this author. 23 executives participated in the first phase of the program including the CEO and his Executive Management Team and selected high potential executives key to the business’ success. The 20 one-hour sessions provided a basic understanding of the principles behind peak performance and the acquisition of five fundamental skills: positive/effective thinking, goal setting, stress management, attention control and visualization. Pre- and post-training assessments on the skills was accomplished through self-assessment and monitoring of various biofeedback and neurofeedback modalities. A post-training summative evaluation and testimonials by participants and by their managers and direct reports on observed behavior and performance change were obtained as measures of success. In addition, actual business results are also being tracked for improvement. These are lagging indicators and will be available at the end of the Company’s fiscal year. The data indicate significant impact on the behavior and performance of participants.


Today’s business Today’s business environment has lead to . . .environment has lead to . . .

Today’s business Today’s business environment has lead to . . .environment has lead to . . .

Overload, stress and diminished performance from relentless productivity demandsOverload, stress and diminished performance from relentless productivity demands

Eroded confidence and self-esteem created by rapidly changing skill requirements Eroded confidence and self-esteem created by rapidly changing skill requirements and job assignmentsand job assignments

Increased demand for personal responsibility and accountability arising from Increased demand for personal responsibility and accountability arising from empowerment and emphasis on teamsempowerment and emphasis on teams

Uncertainty about the balance in work and life because of the transformation of work Uncertainty about the balance in work and life because of the transformation of work through technologythrough technology

Blurred vision, purpose and direction stemming from discontinuous changeBlurred vision, purpose and direction stemming from discontinuous change


Overview of Peak Performance TrainingOverview of Peak Performance TrainingOverview of Peak Performance TrainingOverview of Peak Performance Training

Objective of Peak Performance TrainingObjective of Peak Performance Training– Educate and train in key peak performance skills Educate and train in key peak performance skills

that change behavior and enhance performance that change behavior and enhance performance through increased self-mastery.through increased self-mastery.

What Are the Key Skills?What Are the Key Skills?– Goal SettingGoal Setting - setting - setting thosethose goals and performance objectives that make the goals and performance objectives that make the

criticalcritical difference for an executive difference for an executive

– Positive/Effective ThinkingPositive/Effective Thinking - establishing a continuous mind set of success - establishing a continuous mind set of success through controlled positive self-talkthrough controlled positive self-talk

– Stress ManagementStress Management – achieving voluntary control of emotional and – achieving voluntary control of emotional and physiological responses to stress that otherwise inhibit best performancephysiological responses to stress that otherwise inhibit best performance

– Attention ControlAttention Control – focusing and concentrating in a way that the most critical – focusing and concentrating in a way that the most critical stimuli for any given performance situation are the point of attentionstimuli for any given performance situation are the point of attention

– Visualization and ImageryVisualization and Imagery – being able to literally see in your mind’s eye the – being able to literally see in your mind’s eye the desired performance and outcomedesired performance and outcome


Training Progression for Each ModuleTraining Progression for Each Module

Education

Intervention Acquisition

Application

Cognitive Foundations

Goal Setting

Attention Control

Stress Management

Visualization & Imagery

Module Introductory

Session Assessments

Equipment Orientation

Training Sessions

• Initial session (1 hr)

• Test Battery (1 hr) : ASQ (Seligman) ACSI (Smith, Smoll, Schultz, & Ptacek)

• 5 peak performance skill modules (Approx. 4 hrs each)

• 60 minute sessions; once a week

• 20 hours total time in Center over a 4-5 month period


Setting Up a Center and ProgramSetting Up a Center and Program Establishing my qualifications, expertise, experience and credibility.Establishing my qualifications, expertise, experience and credibility. Identifying an organizational need Identifying an organizational need ((West PointWest Point: develop cadets to : develop cadets to

their full potential in all areas: academics, military leadership, their full potential in all areas: academics, military leadership, athletics. athletics. CorporateCorporate: develop leadership talent): develop leadership talent)

Demonstrating the relationship between what I have to offer Demonstrating the relationship between what I have to offer (peak (peak performance training)performance training) and the need and the need (enhanced performance in all (enhanced performance in all areas)areas)

Presenting lots of data, data, data of success Presenting lots of data, data, data of success (mine is desirable, or (mine is desirable, or at least by others)at least by others)

Presenting a complete program capability to key organizational Presenting a complete program capability to key organizational decision makers. decision makers. ((West PointWest Point: football Coach first. : football Coach first. CorporateCorporate: CEO): CEO)

Identifying key performers willing to “pilot” the program. Identifying key performers willing to “pilot” the program. ((West West PointPoint: started with several key football players. : started with several key football players. CorporateCorporate: : Executive team and high potentials)Executive team and high potentials)

Advertising any and all success – immediately and often.Advertising any and all success – immediately and often. Getting successful participants to spread “the gospel”.Getting successful participants to spread “the gospel”. Revisiting with organizational decision makers and laying out a Revisiting with organizational decision makers and laying out a

detailed plan for developing and implementing a full-fledged detailed plan for developing and implementing a full-fledged program and/or Center.program and/or Center.


Business Success ExperiencesBusiness Success Experiences

Full-scale Peak Performance Center created. First Full-scale Peak Performance Center created. First of its kind in the corporate arena.of its kind in the corporate arena.

Participants:Participants:– First Wave: CEO and his executive team; 11 high First Wave: CEO and his executive team; 11 high

potential executives (23 total participants)potential executives (23 total participants)– Second Wave (just starting): 39 executives and Second Wave (just starting): 39 executives and

managersmanagers

First group of participants showed First group of participants showed – significant improvement in peak performance skillssignificant improvement in peak performance skills– observed behavior change and enhanced performanceobserved behavior change and enhanced performance


Attention Control Progress:Attention Control Progress:Focused ConcentrationFocused Concentration

on the Peak Achievement Trainer on the Peak Achievement TrainerImprovements from Sessions 1 to 5Improvements from Sessions 1 to 5

Attention Control Progress:Attention Control Progress:Focused ConcentrationFocused Concentration

on the Peak Achievement Trainer on the Peak Achievement TrainerImprovements from Sessions 1 to 5Improvements from Sessions 1 to 5

19

65

44

128

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1st TrialBest TrialRange:

18-180

sec

Range:

10-40 sec

Range:

25-65

sec

Range:

48-220

sec

Length of Uninterrupted Concentration


Extent to which I have improved in the Extent to which I have improved in the peak performance skills…peak performance skills…

Extent to which I have improved in the Extent to which I have improved in the peak performance skills…peak performance skills…

3.7

4

4

3.2

3.9

1 2 3 4 5

Visualization

StressManagement

AttentionControl

Goal Setting

PositiveThinking

Participants

Significant Improvement

NoImprovement

N = 23


Extent to which peak performance skills are Extent to which peak performance skills are relevant and applicable to my performance relevant and applicable to my performance

requirements…requirements…

Extent to which peak performance skills are Extent to which peak performance skills are relevant and applicable to my performance relevant and applicable to my performance

requirements…requirements…

4.2

4.7

4.5

4.3

4.4

1 2 3 4 5

Visualization& Imagery

StressManagement

AttentionControl

Goal Setting

PositiveThinking

Participants

Highly Relevant and Applicable

Not Relevantnor Applicable

N = 23


Extent to which the peak performance Extent to which the peak performance training has enhanced my performance training has enhanced my performance

and development…and development…

Extent to which the peak performance Extent to which the peak performance training has enhanced my performance training has enhanced my performance

and development…and development…

3.4

3.8

3.4

4.1

4

1 2 3 4 5

Becoming a peak performer

Enhancing leadershipeffectiveness

Improving overallperformance

Furthering personal &professional development

Developing more effectivebehaviors

Participants

SignificantEnhancement

No Change

N = 23


Testimonials and Anecdotal Evidence of Peak Performance Testimonials and Anecdotal Evidence of Peak Performance Skill Application: Attention ControlSkill Application: Attention Control

“The module on attention control was a major breakthrough for me. The distinction between focus and concentration really clicked. I have learned a great deal about myself from these exercises and believe there is much for me to mine in this area. I have begun to be much more self-aware of how I am ‘paying attention’, in both group meetings and in one-on-one interactions. I have learned how to voluntarily change my field of focus to increase awareness of many things going on around me in a large meeting, for example.”

“This was my second most significant area of positive personal impact. Enhanced concentration skills developed in the Center seemed to really pay off in the number of individual, intense meetings held over the last few months. I have sensed a greater effort on my part, especially in listening. Just heightened awareness of the need alone has brought greater personal satisfaction”

“This is an area in which I had a strong need for improvement. I have been able to focus my attention in meetings much better, resulting in less repetition of topics covered. I can shift from one topic to another related topic more easily.”

“I have really become aware of where my focus and attention need to be in any given situation.”

“During ‘dry’ (but important) presentations, I can now concentrate much better.”

“I have learned the waste of trying to multi-task. I just don’t do it anymore.”

“Understanding the difference between focus and concentration was eye opening. I have been very aware of attending to one thing at a time and completely immersing myself.”

“I have focused on improving this in the [ ] project and in dealing with individual relationship building.”


Dr. Csoka’s CommentsDr. Csoka’s Comments

““Training attention control begins the entire Training attention control begins the entire process of developing peak performance, in process of developing peak performance, in the military and elsewhere. The Peak the military and elsewhere. The Peak Achievement Trainer provides an excellent Achievement Trainer provides an excellent tool for developing enhanced skills in focus tool for developing enhanced skills in focus and concentration. We have been working and concentration. We have been working with business executives at a Fortune 500 with business executives at a Fortune 500 company on their attention skills as part of a company on their attention skills as part of a broader peak performance training program broader peak performance training program that is an integral component of their that is an integral component of their leadership development program...”leadership development program...”


Measurable Improvements from Measurable Improvements from Peak Achievement TrainingPeak Achievement Training

““We have been able to demonstrate measurable We have been able to demonstrate measurable improvements in their ability to attend in crucial improvements in their ability to attend in crucial meetings, engage in critical performance meetings, engage in critical performance appraisals with employees, and deliver appraisals with employees, and deliver exceptional presentations. The Peak exceptional presentations. The Peak Achievement Trainer provides the critical Achievement Trainer provides the critical feedback during attention control training feedback during attention control training needed to develop this skill to a level equal to needed to develop this skill to a level equal to what elite athletes have been able to achieve.”what elite athletes have been able to achieve.”

Col. (RET.) Louis Csoka, Ph.D.Col. (RET.) Louis Csoka, Ph.D.


Program is Very SuccessfulProgram is Very Successful

Adding 39 more executives to the 23 Adding 39 more executives to the 23 already trained. already trained.

CEO and 5 others have continued training, CEO and 5 others have continued training, most all on the Peak Achievement Trainer’s most all on the Peak Achievement Trainer’s ConAlert protocol.ConAlert protocol.

CEO and Dr. Csoka are writing an article CEO and Dr. Csoka are writing an article about this for Harvard Business Review.about this for Harvard Business Review.

More information about this multimodality More information about this multimodality program is on the tape of Dr. Csoka’s talk program is on the tape of Dr. Csoka’s talk on Day 1 of our seminar at ISNR in on Day 1 of our seminar at ISNR in Houston. Available as Tape WS-2a from Houston. Available as Tape WS-2a from http://isnr.org/2003/tapesvideo.htmhttp://isnr.org/2003/tapesvideo.htm

Documents

© 2004 Maximum Performance Group, LLC Peak Achievement Training of the Top Executives of a Fortune 500 Company: Improvements in an EEG Measure of Concentration