Three Pillars of Leadership
Leadership rests on three essential pillars: Skills, Intelligence, and Self. While skills and intelligence can be developed, what sets great leaders apart is the embodiment of the Self.
In the worlds of business, science, and tech, success is often defined and measured by the Mind — logic, strategy, and intellect take centre stage. Yet the Self is never separate from the Body.
Through our Body
- we sense others and the environment
- express moods and emotions
- generate interpretations and beliefs
- interpret historical experiences
- take action towards the future
As we grow, our culture, upbringing, and education shape not only our beliefs but also the very fabric of our being — our posture, our movements, and how we physically show up in the world.
How does this happen?
Think of a painful moment in your life. Just remembering it can bring a wave of emotion—and often, a physical response. You might feel a knot in your stomach, tightness in your chest, or the urge to curl inward.
I experienced this early in my career when I was rejected for a job I deeply wanted. It was my dream role—fully aligned with my PhD. The company had flown me to the US for the interviews, which lasted a full day and included representatives from multiple departments. A month later, when the call came saying they’d chosen someone else, the disappointment hit hard.
Even now, when I think about it, I feel a hole in the pit of my stomach; my body collapses a little, as my chest caves in on itself, and I physically feel the feelings of hurt, sadness, disappointment and inadequacy.
These responses aren’t just emotional—they’re memories that are stored in our tissue. Our Body remembers the sensations of past experiences, and when similar moments arise, it reacts before the Mind can make sense of it. As we grow and our Body repeatedly lives these experiences, it takes on its current form, which feels familiar, yet is unknown to us. If we’re not aware of this, we operate on autopilot.
At the time, for me, that meant dreading future interviews, carrying unprocessed fear and insecurity into the ones that followed over the next couple of months. I pushed through as I had no choice; I needed a job.
But now, I know there’s another way: listening to my Body, trying to understand what she needs from me, both physically and emotionally, and providing for her compassionately.
When we raise our awareness of the Body and how we hold ourselves, we unlock a direct path to our inner knowing and reconnect with our authentic Self. From this place of wisdom, we can make conscious choices about our actions, creating results that are most aligned with our core values.
