“Only that day dawns to which we are awake”

Henry David Thoreau

Embodiment and somatic awareness are what set the high level leader apart from the average. Thomas Hanna, PhD coined the term ‘somatic’ as ‘experiencing the body from within.’  Soma is a greek word that means ‘the living body.’  Somatic awareness is self-awareness in real-time. It is being aware of and sensitive to your perceptions while you are experiencing them. This awareness creates greater emotional intelligence, intuition and clarity. A fully embodied approach to Leadership Development enhances your awareness and perception to meet the ongoing challenges of your organization in a continuously evolving way.

UCLA research professors Albert Mehrabian and Susan R. Ferris published a study in 1967 stating that 93% of all communication is non-verbal.  That means only 7% of communication is perceived through the actual words spoken.   It’s not what you say that affects people as much as how you are communicating with your whole self.  How you ‘show up’ determines how an individual and organization perceive what you mean.  How you are perceived determines how people and an organization evolves or doesn’t.  A leader who is aware and awake to their somatic natures, their whole self, understands that her way of being, not doing, speaks much louder than words.

Our somatic nature is a reservoir of perception and intelligence of untapped resources that guide us into a co-creative and innovative future when we perceive the wisdom found within. Gut knowing, understanding and the ability to think clearly and systemically are developed somatically by being present with your self and others. As Einstein said, ‘We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.’ True innovation is thinking, communicating and doing differently. True innovation is being available for what wants to emerge.  True innovation is a capacity of knowing what is the right action. That only happens when you are aware enough to create the ground for transformation.  At The Center For Intelligent Leadership we help you develop that awareness to become a fully embodied and potentiated leader.

We believe the greatest leaders are those that develop other leaders.  Their curiosity and courage to be authentic with everyone they encounter helps others become who they can be.  Those types of leaders inspire others to be vulnerable, to take chances, to fail and try again and most importantly, to be real. Great leaders connect others with their humanity.  They listen and are available to see and hear others. They ask questions that enable others to offer what they believe and how they are inspired by the work they are doing. Great leaders give of themselves, are engaged and encourage others to succeed individually and company wide.  They are comfortable in their own skin.

Being comfortable is a function of being present, awake and aware of what is happening in the present moment. It is not living in the past or attempting to achieve ‘best practices,’ which are really yesterday’s practices. It is also not being consumed by the future and focusing on meeting future goals. It is not rejecting or denying reality.  Being comfortable in your own skin is about being right here, right now, with all of your self awake to the possibilities that are emerging.  If Einstein was correct by ‘we can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them’, then we have to be open to the now and what is present for us so that we can move ourselves and others towards potential.

“Only that day dawns to which we are awake” is about being present, open, perceptive and available to what is possible.  That occurs in our Soma, our living body, full of wisdom, awareness and true potential.  Listening accurately to what is present in your self and others, being resilient enough to take what is present and leading it toward the future is what our work focuses on at The Center for Intelligent Leadership.  We help you create your tomorrow by being fully present today.