Yoga is called a practice. It emphasizes progress rather than perfection. (Discover perfection's cost here.) There is always something to learn or improve. And there are no experts. In fact, true yogi are far fewer than the colloquial use of the term might indicate. Even yogis practice, embracing the principles of yoga in all aspects of life.
Executing strategy well requires constant assessment and adjustment to align strategy and operations. This alignment is what makes your strategy work. And it’s not static. In fact, like yoga, strategy benefits from ongoing practice. (Find tools to help in my book, Charting the Course.)
How others experience leadership.
Effective leaders routinely assess both the current business context and how others experience leadership. Changes in context or individuals often necessitate a corresponding shift in approach to keep strategy on track. The executives I advise routinely ask:
What must change to succeed in the current environment?
In what ways do leaders bring out the best in their teams?
Deploy three lessons.
Armed with this knowledge, skilled leaders deploy three yoga lessons to guide their teams and execute strategy.
Listening precedes adaptation. Every yoga instructor reminds: listen to your body. Each day, each yoga practice is different. Before making adjustments, skilled leaders get grounded in what’s working – or not. They listen to what is said and unsaid, and observe how competitors, customers, and staff are reacting to the world around them. Ideally, executives engage their boards to provide vital external perspectives, particularly when the world is in flux. Listening precedes adaptation.
A focal point adds stability. Strategy needs a destination – your vision. Yet, the greater the pace, change or chaos around you, the harder it is to navigate. In yoga, a focal point is key to balance poses; directing attention to a fixed object reduces the impact of other forces on your balance. Likewise, amid rapid change or high ambiguity in your business, it’s helpful to identify a shorter-term objective or milestone. Something everyone can readily see. A focal point adds stability while illuminating the path forward.
Counterbalance makes it easier. Relying too heavily on one muscle or limb breeds fatigue and makes it harder to hold a yoga pose. You get more benefit by engaging other muscles, moving in the opposite direction. Effective leaders encourage diverse points of view and approaches. This prevents myopia and improves the outcome. The counterbalance makes it easier to achieve the objective. It often extends reach, capacity, and impact.
Embrace perpetual learning.
Importantly, effective leaders not only adapt their own leadership but also guide their teams to make the adjustments having the greatest potential for impact. They encourage and embrace perpetual learning.
Listening and observing help anticipate needs, hazards, or opportunities. A focal point and counterbalance improve the likelihood of success. Yet, no single adjustment works every time. It's about progress, not perfection. The best leaders practice.