Fluidity in Leadership - June 2021

I believe it’s important that leaders recognize their level of fluidity through their body’s cues. Cultivating this awareness enables leaders to recognize what their physical and emotional bodies are ready for, what might more easily be achieved, what will likely be harder. Recognizing the fluidity in one’s own body can provide insight into your resilience with regards to the situation at hand.  Developing this awareness strengthens your effectiveness as a leader. Let me provide some context about where I’m coming from. 

In mid-2014, I suffered a near-fatal bicycle accident. In my recovery journey, I have repeatedly learned that healing occurs in layers or stages. The body will only release the trauma when it’s ready. Regular Osteopathic Manual Manipulation helped release some of it within the first 2 ½ years following the accident, but more remained. During the past 10 months, I’ve been challenged by another layer of trauma surfacing and being released. It’s only recently, after several unusually intense Osteopathy treatments, that I finally feel a new sense of fluidity in my body.

I noticed almost immediately after the treatment that there was a strong correlation between the fluidity I felt/feel in my body and the easeful way with which I am able to tap into wisdom and words that had remained just out of reach for a while. Activities and tasks that had felt more difficult or challenging before this last treatment, no longer do.

I share this because the way we experience fluidity manifests itself physically. Mindset shifts can be felt physically as well. For instance, when you reactively come to a conclusion about a situation, what happens in your body? If you’re reacting instead of intentionally responding to the situation, you’re likely operating from a flight/fight response. When we respond intentionally we are often able to access additional resources. What becomes possible when your body feels more fluid? How much easier might your days feel if you cultivated a sense of fluidity for yourself and others?

Cultivating an awareness of body cues is one way to develop an awareness of fluidity, and can be learned by nearly everyone. If you’ve ever exercised, you may have noticed that on some days the exercise session seems easier. On other days, the same session seems to require much more effort. If you can recognize that, then you’ve made it past the first step and you’re ready to refine this awareness. To that end, I encourage my clients to create a daily practice of noticing what their body is telling them.

One way to check in with your body and cultivate this awareness is with a body scan. I was taught this practice by the incredibly wise Alta Starr. In its long form, this body scan can take about 11 minutes. With sufficient practice, the short form can be effectively completed in 20-30 seconds. It can be done with your eyes open or closed, seated or standing. If you’re seated, make sure you’re seated in an easeful upright position with your feet flat on the floor and your knees at 90 degrees. If you’re standing, make sure your feet are hip width apart and knees are soft. If you keep your eyes open, let your eyes fall to the back of your head and your field of vision expand gently to the sides. You can access a free recording of the body scan here.

As you become more proficient in tracking what’s up in your body, you’ll be able to recognize what’s going on internally, in the moment. This awareness can significantly enhance your effectiveness as a leader because you will have the space to choose how you respond in that moment. If you feel your body growing tense, you can focus on deepening your breath, finding your feet, and responding intentionally. This doesn’t mean you won’t be tired or angry or stressed. It does mean that you’ll be more aware of the sensation, movement, pressure, temperature, and energy flow in your body. You’ll let the energy move through you without getting stuck and without letting it automatically formulate your response. 

I invite you to explore how your awareness of your body’s cues helps your workflow, your mindset, and your effectiveness as a leader. Do you notice any correlations between the sense of fluidity in your body and your workflow or mindset?