Using Authentic Movement to Help Leaders and Consultants Enhance their Impact

Outcomes

Situation
We were approached by a group of colleagues who knew of our experience in dance and movement, for assistance in developing a stronger presence when consulting to their clients. As one phrased it, “I’d like to be present with undistracted attention.” Another said she would like to be “present without noise.”

Approach
We developed a seven-session series called Presence and Attention at Work, using the innovative approach of Authentic Movement (see Authentic Movement for Individuals and Groups, and Authentic Movement as an innovative practice , to address the following outcomes:

Learn to be present, confident and undistracted
Learn to center oneself in difficult situations
Recognize opportunities to activate compassion and build trust on a deeper level
Become aware of projections and judgments
Enhance capacity to communicate with care and clear boundaries at the same time
Expand capacity to listen, see and tune into diverse needs of clients and employees

Over the course of the seven sessions, using both moving and witnessing, other movement activities, visual, rhythmic and narrative approaches, we helped participants to develop a compassionate internal observer and strong external presence. We also helped participants expand their capacity as external observers, learning to use different lenses (visual, energetic, emotional) to describe what they see. We encouraged them to activate compassion in how they view others and in how they speak about their experiences.

Results
The original group went very well; the series caught on, and we are facilitating our sixth series in this winter of 2009. Past participants have reported great benefits; some have elected to continue working with us as participants in Presence and Attention at Work , Parts II and III.

Some of the comments we have received:

“Moving and Witnessing gives you access to a greater range of possibilities. The way I see is different as a result of taking this series.”
“The Authentic Movement series is a unique and powerful learning experience. As I continue to integrate what I am learning, I am able to take the concept of body mind connection and being present for clients, to a whole new level.”
“Anyone who manages people could benefit from taking this. I found the workshop to have a direct application to my work.”
“Authentic Movement has been a wonderful way for me to further develop my ability to have perspective in the moment. I notice I am more curious and less judgmental.”

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