You’ve worked hard on a project and, during a meeting, your boss publicly acknowledges all of the great work you just did. What you’re probably feeling at that moment is an increase in Enhancing Self. When your Enhancing Self is secured, acknowledged, or heightened, the reward centers of your brain are activated releasing dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter known as the “happy hormone” and is produced in the same region of the brain activated by cocaine.

Now think about how you would feel if your colleague was promoted over you. You’re feeling a threat to your Enhancing Self. This perceived threat activates the same regions of the brain as physical pain and can trigger a fight or flight response. In this case, for example, it can lead you to disengage from work or lead you to take your feelings out on your colleagues or boss.

Enhancing Self is not a zero-sum game however. The awareness that our behaviors can impact the perceived Status of ourselves and each other can help us balance each others Status needs in more equitable ways. To help foster an approach response to Status you can:

• Ask someone to be involved in decision making.

• Ask for feedback on how to better support someone.

• Praise someone for specific strengths.

• Provide opportunities for someone to highlight their strengths and weaknesses.