Is body balance important in leadership?
You are probably too young to remember the TV series Kung Fu, which follows the adventures of Kwai Chang Caine, a Shaolin monk who travels through the American Old West, armed only with his spiritual training. His mentor, Master Po had the fabulous line where he addressed the monk with the response, ”Patience, grasshopper.”
Master Po didn’t run around or bounce. No one expected him to be Mick Jagger and we never saw him walking. If we did, he may have appeared frail and unbalanced and this would have undermined his status as an all-knowing prophet.
This is because there is solid research to show that balance physically is directly correlated to the frailty of the mind.¹ You see gait is an example of behaviour that reflects various levels of nervous system function with gait characteristics closely associated with executive functions including basic and high-level cognitive processes such as attention, working memory, decision-making, and problem-solving. Personally, you may have recognised in friends and relatives who have impaired cognitive function resulting from dementia, that they are in constant danger of falling.²
It gets worse. Researchers have also found ³ that the ability to balance can indicate longevity for older adults. Their report stated that people who fail a balance test of standing on one foot for 10 seconds are twice as likely to die within the next 10 years!
In the leadership arena, this failing balance is a major issue for President Biden as I write. You will have seen his increasing struggle to walk and descend stairs.
The lesson for us all is that sometimes lack of balance has nothing to do with a declining mental state. You may have a sore foot or be tired or have a headache. Here’s the twist: the perception is the same – balance of body equals balance of mind in the eye of the beholder.
Forget Biden, the question for you is this: Are you wearing heels in which you can not walk without throwing your weight forward? Do you make an entrance to a room, stage or meeting and then step/fall backwards? Do you shake hands with your left foot forward? If so, there is every chance you will be easily thrown off balance.
I see these things every day, and if you are younger, you may not have dementia, but you will make some assumptions about the weakness of thinking. In negotiation, perhaps they will think you are physically and mentally a ‘pushover’.
And perception is a funny thing. Once it’s there, it’s hard to remove. I wait by the hour to read ‘Biden resigns’.
Do you?
Let me know your thoughts.
¹ Au Feldman R, Schreiber S, Pick CG and Been E. Gait, Balance and Posture in Major Mental Illnesses: Depression, Anxiety and Schizophrenia. Austin Med Sci. 2020; 5(1): 1039.
² Relationship Between Balance, Gait, and Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults With Dementia.
Nam Gi Lee, PT, PhD, Tae Woo Kang, PT, PhD Found at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2151459320929578
³ Sports Medicine, Volume 56, Issue 17 Found at https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/56/17/975
What I’ve been up to…
I’m coming to LONDON and EUROPE next month! I’m currently
taking meetings whilst I’m there, book in now.
Join my exclusive 3-day retreat, 20th – 22nd August 2025
at the stunning Gold Coast Imperial Hotel
Date: Wednesday – Friday, 20th – 22nd August 2025
Location: The Imperial Hotel Gold Coast (previously Versace Hotel)
My Confident Leader Retreat take place over 3 days 2 nights with a focus on helping leaders build their executive presence and hone their own unique gravitas within a small group setting.
As well as confidence and skills development, those attending forge an invaluable network, sharing opportunities and forming lifelong friendships.
Transform your executive presence, collaborate with other senior leaders and stay ahead.
Create exceptional presence for better leadership and impact
In today’s fast-paced world, effective leadership is vitally important, especially during periods of stress and uncertainty. These programs places a strong emphasis on communication skills, particularly in emotionally charged situations, urging leaders to develop their presence, influence, and presentation abilities.
Gravitas Masterclass Melbourne November 2024
Date: Thursday, 28th November 2024
Location: Melbourne
Venue: RACV City Melbourne
