Alice Vivian, trainer and author of the book Et si le corps était la clé ? believes that authentic leadership happens when the body, heart and mind come into alignment. But why is alignment essential, not only for the individual but also for the collective and the organization as a whole? Alice Vivian, explains.
How do you account for the disconnection between body and mind, and what consequences are there for individuals?
Alice Vivian: We live in a society defined by exhaustion; and I’m not alone in noticing that. We spend our days sitting in front of screens, disconnected from nature and our bodies. The world of work values cognitive intelligence and intellect, to the detriment of other fundamental forms of intelligence: emotional intelligence and somatic—or bodily—intelligence.
This disconnection has two major consequences. First, on health. Our sedentary lifestyles and mental loads are making us sick. Burnout has never been so rife. And for good reason: we’re not listening to our body’s signals, and we ignore fatigue and pain because we feel we must perform at work.
The second consequence is that we cut ourselves off from our “superpowers”: namely our intuitions, our sensations, and our emotions. We tend to forget that we have a strong brain-gut connection, and even neurons in our heart. If we focus on what’s going on in our heads, we don’t have access to this valuable information. Reconnecting the body not only allows us to take care of our health, but also to tap into our full inner potential.
So how can a leader initiate this reconnection make awareness a resource in the workplace?
Alice Vivian: The goal is to align our three centers: the belly, the heart, and the head. To do this, we need to “exercise” our somatic—or bodily—intelligence, and that doesn’t just mean physical exercise. It’s mainly about becoming aware of what’s happening inside the body. The concept is called interoception.
When I work with managers or directors, I suggest very simple rituals inspired by yoga, mindfulness, theater, and martial arts. People can do these short exercises for a few minutes before a meeting or a speech. It’s about being aware of posture, because a closed posture does not transmit the same energy as an open posture, with the feet firmly anchored to the ground. An awareness of how you breathe also calms stress. And the effect of these small adjustments is fantastic.
By changing posture or opening your chest, you come across differently to others. Leaders then exude greater presence and incite trust. When you are grounded and calm with your chest open, you can trigger an inversion of the reptilian brain: other people are then no longer perceived as a threat. You can trust them and listen to them. And when you learn that non-verbal communication accounts for 70 to 80% of the messages we send, this element is absolutely key!
We’ve talked about the benefits for individuals, but what is the impact of this reconnection on teams and companies?
Alice Vivian: That’s actually the whole point. The first step is for leaders to take care of themselves, because you can’t activate agility, creativity or empathy if you are under stress. We tend to forget, but stress brings out the worse in us.
Once a leader has found alignment, they can be exemplary. By ensuring coherence between their values and their body, leaders spread positive energy to their teams. And by reconnecting with their authenticity, a leader will be able to take the most meaningful action, for themselves and for others.
Ultimately, leadership through the body is the best way to personify the values we want to spread throughout the entire organization. And even further afield! I hope that by acting in this way, we can move from a society of exhaustion to one that is more united, more authentic, and more joyful.
