The Leadership Dojo: Build Your Foundation as an Exemplary Leader

Now relax the eyes. The eyes are connected to the brain by the optic nerve, and if your eyes are rigid and fixed, this will transfer to the brain. The brain will slightly contract, and this tension will precipitate throughout the central nervous system, and thus the entire body. Eye tension may initially be under the level of awareness; if so the e

If we consider that from a somatic perspective, voice tone and tempo fall into the category of body, we can conclude that 93 percent of building trust and credibility is communicated through the body.

the self is the fundamental power of a leader and the self is indistinguishable from the body. That is, our comportment, body alignment and function, capacity for action, and how we presence ourselves through our bodies reflects who we are as persons, reflects our orientation to others and to the world. In other words, the body is a manifestation o

We ask people to say, “I am a commitment to …” instead of “I’m committed to …” as a reminder that we are the commitment, we strive to embody its value and contribution, and we’re fully accountable for its outcome. The commitment lives inside us and moves out from our center. After speaking her commitment, she received feedback from her partner, who

It’s also important not to overextend and leave one’s body in the desire to make contact. When we overextend we’re either looking too far outside of ourselves for approval or we’re not firmly anchored in our own bodies—our own experience—and suddenly find ourselves lost in another’s experience or value system without consciously intending to do so.

A practice is a conscious choice we make to train ourselves so we will behave and act in a particular way so that it becomes embodied or part of who we are.

exemplary leadership; by this I mean the ability to organize and mobilize the talents and skills of others (or yourself) toward an observable result. This is accomplished through pragmatic wisdom, grounded compassion, and skillful action.

Energy follows attention, and this energy provides a channel, much like a radio wave, in which we are able to sense into a situation that goes beyond our customary way of perceiving.

new practices are required to take new actions. When we fully comprehend this, we gracefully allow the time to practice so that we can embody new behaviors.