Embodied leadership – a beginner’s guide: Part II

When we are in the workplace, a body-to-mind information flow can be accessible and useful to us. Nonetheless, many of us rarely listen to or notice it. We are trapped in our chairs staring at a screen in one position for hours and become numb to what our bodies are telling us. After all, our bodies are engineered to move, not sit all day.

Worst of all, because of social convention, we often consciously try to behave “professionally” by showing no emotion. When our bodies signal to us that emotions are developing, we try to hold them in because of a societal belief that showing them portrays weakness or is a burden to others. How many times have you met people who roll their eyes and say that “drama” is a waste of their time? Right. There is often judgement and criticism aimed at those who show emotion at work or even at all. 

In fact, when we deny our emotions, we are going against our own nervous system and we can actually be damaging ourselves. How? Suppressing emotions is stressful.  According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, chronic stress suppresses the immune system and often manifests itself in illness.  Stress plays a significant role in diabetes, heart disease, and psychiatric illness, among others.* You’ve heard the term “psychosomatic”, right? This is essentially a term that refers to the connection between the psychological and the physiological. The symptoms are real, but the origin may not be what we think.(Source:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3341916/).

Embodied leadership

As I mentioned in the last blog on this topic, our bodies give us quick and clear information on what is happening in our inner emotional life. Our shoulders rise, abdomens tighten, faces flush, etc. when we have to deal with people and situations that evoke strong emotions in us.

Leaders who understand somatics can monitor their reactions to those around them – staff, peers, and superiors – in the moment. This way they can achieve a high level of self-knowledge and control. Being more aware sooner allows them to focus on the area of the body that is reacting, perhaps taking a few breaths directed at that area. This is one of many techniques that enable leaders to behave less reactively and to have better communication with others. A leader who is grounded in their body, listens to its information, and has good emotional literacy is more equipped to master the behaviors and qualities of a good leader who is:

·      Calm under pressure

·      Decisive

·      Provides clear verbal expression

·      Shows good listening skills

·      Is skilled in giving and receiving feedback

·      Solicits and leverages new ideas

image: unsplash

How can we begin to practice somatic awareness?

Starter exercises:

1.     Practice body-awareness in meditation (do a scan of yourself from head to toe)

2.     Notice how your body reacts when you interact with various people, especially those who challenge (or “trigger”) you. This is hard, but don’t give up. Taking notes can be helpful.

3.     Breathe into the area of your body that is reacting (see above).

4.     Practice some cardio activity regularly and journal about the effects, both physical and mental:

·      How do you feel afterward?

·      How long does that feeling last?

·      Note your mood

·      Note your level of physical well-being and mood in the days following

Problem-solving and healing

You have entered the realm of somatics and embodied leadership.  Our bodies can help us solve problems and heal our own physical ailments, as well as our mental stress and unhappiness. In short, we ourselves can influence the state of our health, productivity and creativity at work by listening to our bodies differently. So, what about getting up and taking a walk?

Stay tuned for more blogs on this topic.