What if you could be the best possible version of yourself as an influencer or leader for yourself, your people, and your organization? What might that look like? What if I told you anything was possible for you? Would you believe me?

Let me ask you this: Which voice do you tend to listen to – your inner critic or your “outward” voice that helped get to you where you are today?  

Do not get me wrong. My inner critic is still very much alive, and I am appreciative of it because sometimes it has helped keep me safe in what could have been disastrous situations. Our inner voices are kind of like an angel and devil sitting on our shoulders, bringing opposite perspectives to everything we face.

To bring this to life, think of the concept of Yin and Yang. We need it to balance us and keep our energy “in flow”.  

Yin and Yang, as described by Wikipedia, is as a concept of dualism, describing how seemingly opposite or contrary forces may actually be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world, and how they may give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another. This view comes from Ancient Chinese philosophies and is very much alive in our modern world today although we may not describe it as yin and yang.

Yin and Yang is very much about creating harmony in your life – your home, your work, and your relationships. I like to come at it through a different lens and describe it as being “in flow”.  As leaders or influencers, when we are “in flow” we are clear about what we want to accomplish, how we want to be perceived and how we want to live our lives in alignment with that higher purpose.

When we are “in flow” we perform at our best, we feel good and the negative energies which include our negative self-talk are kept in are check, allowing us to live a very happy and fulfilling lives on all levels. This also has a positive impact on those that we serve as that positive energy and perspective can become contagious inside teams and organizations.

What does being “in flow” feel like to you? How would you describe it? If I were to try and define in it a way like Wikipedia, it might read something like this:

Being in flow is when you are true to yourself by being clear about what your higher purpose is and your attitude, thinking and behavior aligns with that higher purpose, i.e. "I’m here to make the world a better place or to serve others."

I make it sound simple, when, in fact, being “in flow” might mean different things to different people and that is okay. The point is when you can identify what that means to you and why it is important, you are stepping into living a more purposeful and intentional life. 

When you are in “your flow”, it feels empowering. It’s exciting so much so that you feel like anything is possible, you just need to take action towards it. Modelling these behaviors also set an example for others to follow. Imagine the impact the concept of “flow” could have on overall organizational effectiveness. The positive impacts are endless and will have a dramatic impact in your bottom-line results.

As this calendar year starts to close and we enter a new year, it is the perfect time for some self-reflection about what went well this year for you despite the uncertainty and challenges you may have experienced.

What are some insightful things that learned about yourself? What do you want to do differently next year so can you find “flow” and live a life that you have always desired?  

It’s not about the size of our dreams that matter. It’s what matters to you, not your family, your friends, or your colleagues. It is about staying true to who you are, what you want for yourself and aligning that with what you value most as an individual.

When we can tap into our why and live an intentional and purposeful life that aligns with our why, we will be “in flow” as I like to call it. As leaders, when we encourage others to find their respective why, we, in turn, create high-performing individuals and teams who are highly focused and purposeful in their actions to move the business forward.

Wikipedia describes a flow state as a mental state in which a person performing some activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity.

I like this definition although I tend to look at it through the lens of your entire life vs. an activity as described above.

Benefits of Being “In Flow”

• You focus on what is most important to you and honor yourself first. Leadership is an inside-out-job, and it starts with you feeling grounded and “in flow” so that you can show up as the best version of you.
  
  
• Being “in flow” can lead to improved performance, and research has found that one of the major benefits of being “in flow” is that it can enhance human performance, allowing us to achieve our goals at an accelerated pace.
  
  
• Foster ongoing learning and development as individuals who continually seek new challenges to “be in flow” will expand their abilities and confidence level.
  
  
• When we are intentional and purposeful in how we show up, we will rise to conquer challenges and deal with adversity in more productive ways.
  
  
• Being “in flow” increases enjoyment, personal satisfaction and fosters innovation. When we are at our best, we perform well and are open to seeking out new ways of doing things and solving problems.
  
  
• When we are “in flow” we are present, in the moment with ourselves and others which leads to more active listening, empathy, and builds deeper, more meaningful connections with others.

There are endless benefits to being “in flow” and the key is connecting with your why or higher purpose first, so that you know what to focus on as you navigate through work and life. In addition, as leaders, it is your responsibility to help those that you lead tap into their why to lead more purposeful and intentional careers and lives.

Are you interested in learning more about this concept of being “in flow” and how it can benefit you and your team? I would love to hear what your thoughts are on this topic so please reach out to me and let’s chat. Give me a call today at 1.855.871.3374 or send me an email at joanne.trotta@leadersedgeinc.ca.