Author and team coach Jennifer Britton joins Dr. Irena to explore the neuroscience of team flow—when groups synchronize attention, trust, and shared goals. They discuss how clarity, emotional intelligence, and psychological safety help teams thrive in complexity, interdependence, and constant change.

In each episode of Neuroscience of Coaching, host Dr. Irena O’Brien explains the science-based insights behind a particular concept and interviews a coach to discuss how these apply in the real world. Just as she does in her professional programs, Irena “un-complicates” neuroscience and teaches practical, evidence-based tools and strategies that listeners can use in their coaching practices.

“When teams align goals and strengths, flow becomes inevitable.” — Jennifer Britton

Guest Bio:

Jennifer Britton is a global thought leader, award-winning coach, and author recognized for pioneering the field of group and team coaching. As founder of Potentials Realized, she has spent more than two decades helping teams, leaders, and coaches enhance connection, collaboration, and creativity through science-informed and experiential approaches.

Jennifer is the author of seven influential books, including the world's first book on group coaching, as well as From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching, Reconnecting Workspaces, and Coaching Business Builder. Her work bridges neuroscience, learning science, and coaching practice-translating research on trust, engagement, and motivation into practical strategies that help teams and individuals thrive.

A former UN team leader turned entrepreneur, Jennifer has worked across more than 100 countries, designing programs that spark insight, performance, and sustained change. Her frameworks, such as the Six Factors of High-Performing Teams and Coaching & Change™, offer actionable roadmaps for today's complex and hybrid world.

Through her Conversation Sparker™ experiential tools, Flow-Flex-Scale™ Lab, and Experiential Roadshow, Jennifer continues to inspire coaches and leaders to "slow down to speed up"—leveraging the brain's natural capacity for learning, connection, and transformation.

Jennifer has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from McGill, a Masters in Environmental Studies, a post-graduate certificate in Human Resources, as well as multiple certifications as an experience designer, coaching supervisor, team coach, and performance improvement specialist.

Host Bio:

Dr. Irena O’Brien teaches coaches and care professionals how to achieve better results for their clients through neuroscience.

She is the founder of Neuroscience School, which helps practitioners understand and apply insights from cutting-edge neuroscience research. She loves seeing her students gain confidence in their ability to evaluate neuroscience findings and use them successfully in their own practices. Her Certificate Program in Neuroscience is certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) for Continuing Coaching Education credit.

Dr. O’Brien has studied neuroscience for 25 years and holds a Ph.D. in the field from the Université du Quebec à Montréal (UQAM), where she did brain-imaging studies. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Centre for Language, Mind, and Brain at McGill University.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Mirasee
Dr. Irena O'Brien’s website: The Neuroscience School
Jennifer’s website: PotentialsRealized.com
Jennifer’s Coaching Group: GroupCoachingEssentials.ca
Jennifer’s Podcast: The Coaching Many Podcast
Jennifer’s book in Amazon: Reconnecting Workspaces: Pathways to Thrive in the Virtual, Remote, and Hybrid World
Jennifer’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@effectivegroupcoach

Credits:

Host: Dr. Irena O’Brien
Producer: Andrew Chapman
Audio Editor: Marvin del Rosario
Executive Producer: Danny Iny
Music Soundscape: Chad Michael Snavely
Making our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio

Music credits:

Track Title: Sneaker Smeaker
Artist: Avocado Junkie
Writer: Sander Kalmeijer
Publisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION

Track Title: Coo Coos
Artist: Dresden, The Flamingo
Writer: Matthew Wigton
Publisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION

Track Title: In This Light
Artist: Sounds Like Sander
Writer: Sander Kalmeijer
Publisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION

Special effects credits:

24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.

To catch the great episodes coming up on Neuroscience of Coaching, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channel or your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It’s the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.

Episode transcript: Designing Team Flow: The Neuroscience of Collaboration (Jennifer Britton) coming soon.