At my yoga class recently, our teacher thanked us for sharing our yoga practice.  As I was bowing my head and saying “namaste” so she could hear me, but not so loudly to disturb others given dawn was just breaking, her emphasis on the word “practice”, stayed with me long after the class.  

I have returned to yoga after a long period off.  I am enjoying reconnecting with slow, deliberate, strong movement that also offers me a place to connect with calmness.  I feel I am really practicing yoga.  Movements are starting to flow, and I know that on some days I feel more in tune with my yoga practice than others.  Apparently, my yoga teacher feels this too as she refers to her own practice.  She provides us with guidance on adjusting movements depending on how we are feeling.  This permission invites a deeper awareness of self and what I need in that moment from a mind and body perspective.   

Just like a yoga practice, or meditation, journaling, learning an instrument or exercise, I believe that leadership is also practice.  We are constantly evolving in our role as leaders and we have the opportunity for ongoing learning about ourselves, those we lead and our organisations.   

To practice is to do or perform often, to be professionally engaged and to perform or work repeatedly so as to become proficient (Merriam-Webster dictionary).   

None of this sounds like it’s learned and then that’s it- you’re done.  Even in becoming proficient, the benchmark for proficiency continues to shift as you achieve.  I appreciate Joe Raelin’s view in his work about Leadership as Practice.  He encourages us to think of the development of our leadership knowledge as a fluid rather than a permanent form and to use this mindset as we consider engaging in a leadership practice as a perfectly acceptable place to learn to lead.  

To adopt a leadership practice mindset, we can engage in some deliberate leadership practices that may look like strategies we adopt when learning yoga or a musical instrument or anything else you need to practice.  This serves as a great reminder to be picking up my guitar more often.  I won’t develop my skills unless I practice. 

1. Skill Development: Both leadership and playing a musical instrument require skill development over time. Mastering a musical instrument involves developing technical proficiency, understanding musical theory, and honing performance skills. 
2. Consistency and Practice: Just as effective leadership requires consistent effort and practice, becoming proficient at yoga demands regular deliberate practice and dedication.  
3. Feedback and Improvement: Both leadership and music benefit from feedback and continuous improvement. Leaders can seek feedback from colleagues, mentors, and coaches to identify areas for growth and refine their leadership style. Similarly, musicians often receive feedback from instructors, fellow musicians, and audience members, helping them refine their technique, interpretation, and performance skills. 
4. Expression and Creativity: Leadership and yoga offer opportunities for expression and creativity. Effective leaders inspire and motivate others, communicate a vision, and foster innovation within their teams and organisations. Likewise, yogi’s express themselves through movement and flow as a form of expression and release. 
5. Collaboration: Both leadership and music involve collaboration and ensemble work. Leaders must collaborate with team members, stakeholders, and other leaders to achieve common goals and address challenges effectively. Similarly, musicians often collaborate with other musicians requiring teamwork, communication, and adaptability. 
6. Performance and Execution: Ultimately, leadership, music and yoga require effective performance and execution. Leaders must deliver results, make decisions, and inspire confidence in their teams and stakeholders. Similarly, musicians must perform at their best during rehearsals, concerts, or recordings, delivering polished performances that engage and captivate audiences.  Yogi’s are encouraged to challenge themselves by moving into stronger poses for a longer period of time, displaying resilience, strength and focus.  

When we view leadership as a practice, we are reminded of our ongoing opportunity to learn as leaders. If we are open to this, we see that there are endless possibilities to grow our deliberate leadership practice, so we can be better leaders for our teams, our customers and our organisations.  

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