politicwise - politics meets personal development: Recent Episodes
Dr. Daniel Matteo
politicwise is where politics meets personal development. It’s for those who want to make a difference in the world out there - while working on themselves, being the change they want to see. It’s for learners, beginners, the open-minded. I bring together an eclectic mix of political leaders, scientists and change-makers to discuss the daily challenges of political leadership and the mindsets, tools and routines to thrive in politics.
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In this podcast episode, I’m sharing 5 obstacles to winning the Inner Game of Politics.
Performance = Potential - Interference
In politics, we always play an outer game and an inner game.
The outer game is formulating good policy, forming coalitions, expressing your ideas convincingly etc.
The inner game is being aware of what really matters to you and others, managing your thoughts and emotions, staying grounded etc.
Playing the inner game effectively is less about adding than subtracting:
Performance = potential - interference
Reducing interference allows you to play fully to your potential.
What are the inner interferences / obstacles getting in the way in politics?
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Lack of Focus
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Where to focus is about prioritising (via ‘the 1 thing’ or ‘impact-feasibility matrix’)
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What matters most is about knowing your criteria for prioritising, i.e. your values and those of your group; and ‘knowing’ this cognitively, emotionally, somatically
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How to keep focus is about selective attention and open monitoring; creating habits/systems against distraction to avoid ego depletion & Zeigarnik effect; saying ‘No’ to important things
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Chronic Stress
Chronic stress interferes in three ways:
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Cognitive impairment, especially for those parts of the brain involved in executive functions like decision-making and planning
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Emotional dysregulation: long-term stress causes anxiety and it makes the brain's amygdala more sensitive to threat, feeling on edge
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Declining physical health: chronic stress weakens the immune system and can also increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases
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Cognitive Bias
Brains evolved with several mental shortcuts that made sense over a long stretch of our specie's existence, but can and often get in the way of deliberate decision-making for a complex problem.
I collected30 cognitive biases you fall for in politics.
- ‘House Divided’
“A house divided against itself, cannot stand” - Abraham Lincoln
The inner ‘house divided’ is about parts of yourself sabotaging your efforts.
- Feeling Powerful (unchecked)
Feeling powerful can make you …
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More aggressive
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More risk-taking
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Have a (false) sense of control
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More goal-focused, less vigilant
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More ego-centric and less empathetic
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Take action more boldly (as limitations on action are removed)
These effects can be helpful, but also become an obstacle if unchecked.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.politicwise.org
Should we do a power audit for politicians? Get a sense of how they'll be handling power before we elect them? Neuroscience shows why this might be worthwhile and political science shows how it could be done
What's politics like for a newcomer? A conversation with Eileen O'Sullivan, Deputy Mayor of Frankfurt
Why I believe politics & personal development belong together. And what makeup has to do with it
What makes politics stressful, coping mechanisms, the responsibility of society & media. A conversation with Dr James Weinberg
Emotions & ego in politics and how to stay focused on what matters. My guest is Valerie Sternberg-Irvani, founder & co-president of a political party, candidate for the German Bundestag.