How to lead holistically with a bit of blue mind thinking
Matthew Porter • 12 December 2023
I was pondering how holistic leadership and "Blue Mind" 🌏 thinking could be combined - as they are pretty closely related concepts, each complementing the other in fostering a comprehensive, mindful, and balanced approach to leadership and life.
"Blue Mind" is a term popularised by marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols, referring to the mildly meditative, relaxed state of mind we experience when near, in, on, or under water. It's about the emotional, psychological, and physical benefits we derive from water environments.
Here's how holistic leadership connects with "Blue Mind" thinking:
🔹 Stress Reduction and Mindfulness: Both holistic leadership and Blue Mind emphasize reducing stress and enhancing mindfulness. Being around water, as suggested by Blue Mind, can be a powerful tool for leaders to achieve a calm, reflective state, enhancing decision-making and creativity.
🔹 Well-Being and Balance: Holistic leadership focuses on the overall well-being and balance of the leader and their team. Blue Mind complements this by highlighting the therapeutic benefits of water environments, which can improve mental health and emotional well-being.
🔹 Environmental Connection and Stewardship: Holistic leaders often value a strong connection with nature and environmental stewardship. Blue Mind thinking deepens this connection, specifically focusing on the importance of water bodies, their use and conservation.
🔹 Restorative Environments: Blue Mind underscores the restorative power of water environments. Holistic leaders can incorporate this understanding by creating workspaces with elements of nature, even just including water features, or encouraging activities like walks near water to rejuvenate, reset and inspire.
🔹 Work-Life Balance: Both concepts advocate for a healthy work-life balance. Engaging with water-based activities (like swimming, sailing 👌, or just being near water) can be a part of maintaining this balance, offering leaders and their teams a way to disconnect, relax, and recharge.
🔹 Emotional Intelligence and Empathy: Holistic leadership values emotional intelligence and empathy, and Blue Mind thinking can enhance these qualities. Being around water can heighten emotional awareness and foster a deeper connection with oneself and others - this was certainly the case with the coastal outdoors coaching sessions I ran last summer.
🔹 Innovative Thinking and Inspiration: The serene and expansive nature of water environments can stimulate innovative thinking and inspire new ideas, aligning well with the forward-thinking and comprehensive approach of holistic leadership.
So, in summary, holistic leadership and Blue Mind thinking are pretty synergistic, with Blue Mind's focus on the benefits of water environments enriching the broader, more comprehensive approach of holistic leadership, particularly in areas of well-being, environmental stewardship, and balanced living.
If you are interested in how you can lead holistically and/or bring a bit of blue mind thinking to your world 🌏 I'd love to hear about it.
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