As I entered the non-profit sector in my early 20s, I saw stressed out leaders all around me. They had to fundraise and market their organizations and prove their program models worked to solve the social issues most near and dear to their hearts.  Many of them just wanted to do the program-related work they loved and not all the administration necessary to support their organizations.  There seemed to be a conflict between what they had to do to keep their organizations afloat and what they needed to do to be impactful social leaders addressing society's most pressing issues.   

Observing this conflict is part of what motivated me to leave my role as a national service leader in 1994 and pursue my love of modern dance. I knew a holistic approach to leadership development made sense, but I didn't know exactly how I would parlay this understanding into a career.   Since my early 20s, I have learned that if we want to do work that is most meaningful to us over the course of our life time, we've got to pace ourselves and approach life in a balanced way.  

When we're stressed and feel under pressure, we instinctually lead from the limbic "lizard" brain. When we're centered, we can access and lead from the neo-cortex. We cannot change our habits through the mind alone. Neuroscientists are demonstrating how physical posture, breath and the way we carry ourselves influence our thinking and the environment around us. It's with this perspective grounded in science that at Conditioning Leaders we bring the body front and center into our leadership development with clients.

If you're curious to learn more, come to one of our workshops or call for a private session to learn more about how to become an embodied leader.

Happy Spring,