Dr. André Vermeulen has coined the construct of neuro-agility as the fundamental point of departure to developing neuro agile people who can learn, think and process information with ease, speed and mental flexibility. Subsequently, he has developed several unique neuroscience assessments and learning solutions to help people and organizations move their performance forward. These assessments are new neuroscience innovations that are registered as Neuro-Agility Profiles™ (NAP™). This neuroscience innovation is used in talent selection, talent development, performance improvement, increasing engagement, reducing risk for human error, developing agile learners and leaders and creating cultures of learning initiatives.
He has conceptualized a framework for the construct of neuro-agility consisting of the drivers that optimize brain performance and the factors that impact a person’s neurological design. Neuro-agility as a construct and its framework has never been included in any personality assessment yet. Until now, there has not been sufficient research done regarding the neurophysiology of personality, but most importantly, there has not been sufficient research regarding the thinking, learning and development implications of the neurophysiological components of personality. Anchoring personality and behavioral assessments and approaches into the hard sciences like neurophysiology, genetics, chemistry etc. increases its accuracy and validity further.
The NAP™ assessment that Dr. André Vermeulen developed, fills a gap in the talent development and performance improvement industry. He is the only expert in terms of linking neurological design to behavior and personalities through this new innovation he has developed.
Until now there has not been a more comprehensive assessment to illustrate the neurophysiological aspects of personality. Except for Dr. Vermeulen’s assessments, there is not an assessment that exists in today’s market that can accurately measure, in such a holistic manner, the drivers that optimize brain performance and the neurophysiological components that increases people’s mental flexibility to be agile thinkers and learners. This drivers that optimize brain performance are crucial to helping people increase the ease and speed with which they think, learn and processes information, but also improve their brain health and mental performance. More importantly, is the fact that these drivers will influence people’s neurodesign and particularly how they process information and their risk for human error profoundly.
A very unique aspect of the drivers that optimize performance is brain agility. Although the term has very popularly been used, scientific conceptualization of what the concept entails and the neurophysiological mechanisms that determine people’s brain agility has never been formulated in such a scientific/academic manner. The novel conceptualization of this driver and the impact it has on mental performance has never been included in personality assessments or performance improvement assessments and solutions.
The second leg of the neuro-agility framework that also lacks existence in the market, is the 7 factors that impact a people’s neurological design (referred to as neurodesign). Again, conceptualizing this novel concept and the mechanisms that determine a person’s neurological design brings a complete new perspective to the neurophysiological aspects of personality and understanding people, potential and performance optimization. These elements have never been included in any personality assessment in such a comprehensive way. Therefore, what makes this part of the neuro-agility framework immensely valuable is that it helps to accurately determine people’s learning potential, which plays a crucial role in potential identification, talent selection and talent development. It also forms the core of components that enable people to have mental flexibility in thinking and learning. This assessment is a powerful tool in the hands of people development professionals in various fields like education, learning, talent selection, talent development, performance improvement, workplace engagement, happiness and wellness.
A very important aspect of the instrument that Dr. Vermeulen has developed, that forms part of people’s neurodesign, is how the combination of dominant brain hemisphere, eye, ear and hand may lead to people experiencing neurological hindrances during stress and fatigue and may lead to an increase in human error, incidents, accidents and even fatalities in the workplace. This aspect of identifying potential for human error and how to reduce it, is groundbreaking for any industry where people are doing dangerous jobs, operating dangerous machinery, vehicles or tools. It will significantly contribute to saving lives, optimize performance, and increase productivity. This concept is already being received with accolades in industries like defense, mining, manufacturing and oil and gas
In summary, the concepts and approaches in the NAP™ that Dr. André Vermeulen has developed and pioneered, that can’t be found in other psychometrical instruments, are as follows:
- The Neurophysiological conceptualization of brain agility and its mechanisms.
- Conceptualization of the drivers that influence brain performance.
- Conceptualization of neurological dominance and its impact on a people’s mental flexibility.
- Conceptualization of the factors that determine a person’s neurodesign.
- How a person’s neurodesign influences their potential risk for human error and performance.
- The interplay between the drivers that impact brain performance and neurodesign.
- The NAP™ provides a new framework for identifying potential, developing talent, improving performance, promoting brain health and reducing risk for human error.
- The 12 Emotional Intelligence Competencies Profile™ is another assessment that Dr. Vermeulen developed to illustrate the competence of people with regards to the world-class emotional intelligence framework that Neuro-Link uses to optimize performance and develop talent.