Have you ever walked into a room and sensed it’s high-pressured energy? Do certain people or triggers make you tense in your body?
Imagine if you were able to instantly tap into your own innate superpowers to shield or release yourself from bad energy. Imagine no more.
Humans intuitively possess the intelligence to transcend stressful situations that commonly arise in everyday life, especially in the workplace where people spend the majority of their waking hours. Embodied Leadership, or the capacity to harness inner awareness and mind-body intelligence, can dramatically boost one’s ability to lead in the midst of complexity, ambiguity, and exponential change.
In this article, we’ll explore this holistic style of leadership by defining embodiment qualities, scenarios and practices that evolve our collective capability.
What is an embodied leader?
Embodied leadership can be defined as using one’s intuitive mind-body intelligence to empower clarity, focus and decision-making in the face of difficulty. Leaders who consciously cultivate self awareness and know how to use grounding techniques for their body are more attune and present to sensory experiences moment by moment.
Their clear mindedness allows for sharper focus and concentration. Their emotions do not fluctuate high or low, but rather, are visibly steady and sustained throughout the changing needs of the hour. They know their strengths and work in harmony with their natural gifts.
The depths of personal connection, integration and experience expands into how the individual perceives and interacts with the outer world. Interaction with external stimuli does not generally cause stress because they are skilled at controlling mind and emotions. With a solid foundation in mind-body awareness and regulation, embodied leaders are able to operate from a place of compassion, gratitude and positivity.
Development of self through embodied practice starts with the recognition that our thinking and rational mind is heavily interlinked with the layers of the body.
Our mind and body are linked – it’s quantum physics!
According to the science of quantum physics, the body is made up of layers of energy beyond the material body that we can visibly see. The subtle bodies are a life force activated by one’s thoughts, emotions and perceptions toward self and the outer world.
The subtle bodies generally include physical, etheric, mental, emotional and spiritual. There are also 7 wheels (chakras) and over 170 channels (nadies) of energy residing within the body. You can see, feel and experience a person’s energy as being high or low, happy or sad and everything in between. In fact, the electromagnetic energy generated in one’s auric field can extend up to 5 feet beyond the physical body’s perimeter.
We also know that the physical body breaks down under stress. Consider tension that gets trapped in the cellular tissue via some form of trauma – death, divorce, addiction – and gradually manifests in disease, anxiety, depression or some other suffering. Moreso, Dr. Bruce Lipton explains that our health is heavily influenced by the power of thought – both negative and positive.
Whether gross or subtle, the body possesses many energetic sources of wisdom that serve as a practical tool to guide conscientious action with the external world.
Learn to respond with a neutral mind.
As humans, our natural tendency is to react based on emotional and habitual patterns from our past. Consequently, people over-react, say words they don’t mean and stir up unnecessary drama in the mind. This benefits no one.
In order to move towards embodied leadership, we must first understand the difference between a reaction and a response to any given stimuli. A reaction is instantaneous, automatic, thoughtless and habitual. For example, pretend you’ve misplaced your phone in a crowded room but automatically think that someone has stolen it in a state of panic.
In contrast, a response is gradual, mindful and balanced. Given the same example, you notice your phone is missing and do not panic, but rather trust that it will easily be found and returned. Your response is to calmly look around and kindly ask for help. Imagine the sensations within your body in each scenario. Can you feel the difference in the experience?
Short interview with Kia Miller at the International Yoga Festival in Rishikesh, India.
Responding with a neutral mind free of bias after careful contemplation is difficult for most humans especially in our fast moving, attention-deficit times. The good news is there are proven techniques that can be applied and practiced to dramatically boost your “grace under fire” skills to achieve mental and emotional stability.
In our “gotta have it now” culture, however, it’s important to note that these superhuman powers are not easy or automatic to obtain. Embodied leadership requires constant training over time through a disciplined practice of self-connection, introspection and surrender. The reward is worth the effort – a leader who is able to transcend challenges and operate more harmoniously with the external world is unstoppable!
How does one become an embodied leader?
Start experimenting with some of the following techniques when you find yourself in a heated moment, feel tension arise or need to release pent-up trauma within your body. You might even choose to focus on one at a time to see what works for you.
- Focus on breath to calm your mind before reacting. Breathe deep with long exhalation to activate the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS).
- Meditate or focus the mind on a particular object, thought or activity to neutralize the mind.
- Maintain presence without multi-tasking to fully absorb the current moment without distraction.
- Surrender to and accept what you cannot control trusting that the most optimal outcome or teaching will unfold.
- Nourish your body with adequate nutrition, water, sleep, movement and self-care. Limit the toxins that enter your being including negative thoughts and language.
- Create space for you to observe the situation objectively and respond mindfully. Take a moment to see things as they are and look for the learnings in every situation.
- Stay committed to your actions without attachment to the results. Dissolve expectations and simply be content with your efforts.
- Operate in integrity with your truth. Speak with honesty and offer your natural talents in service of others.
- Listen to the rhythms and intelligence inherent to the body rather than to the fluctuations of the mind. Nature is perfectly balanced and an effective communicator if observed closely.
Are you ready to commit to become an embodied leader?
A disciplined practice is the only way to initiate a permanent shift and ignite true, lasting impact. While challenging yourself to train your mind and bolster your nervous system, it’s helpful to lean in to your tribe – family, friends, coaches and teachers – for support and accountability.
Don’t be afraid to express vulnerability and courage to say “I failed”, “I’m struggling” or “I need help”. Start with small acts rooted in presence and I promise the results will flow. Trust in the journey and what it has to offer along the way.
What better place to start your mindfulness journey than in the workplace where team dynamics, shifting demands and natural chaos ensues regularly. Given the time each of us devotes to work, your professional life is the perfect playground for you to expand these capabilities. Anyone and everyone – from CEO’s to janitors – are encouraged to awaken this powerful agency for reducing stress and responding to problematic situations with mastery.
The solution to all of our worldly problems can be found inwardly. May the practice of embodied leadership guide your actions, grace your interactions and inspire living to your fullest human potential.
If you are interested in building the capacity of an embodied leader, Mind Moves offers a 21 hour training course. Please email nicole@mindmoves.co to learn more.
