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FLEXIBILITY

The Winning Cocktail for Flexibility

 

Mental and emotional flexibility is influenced by physical flexibility -- because the body and brain are inextricably linked. With the kind of flexibility that Physical Intelligence enables us to develop, we can be more collaborative, creative, innovative, more willing to embrace change and adapt to different styles of communicating and working.  

 

Lack of flexibility both mentally and emotionally is usually accompanied by physical tension or collapse caused by being in a physiological threat response for a sustained period of time. Once we realise that we are in threat response, using flexibility techniques is one way to discharge the negative effects of the threat chemical cortisol and replace them with the chemicals that are better for sustained peak performance – Oxytocin and Serotonin.

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Oxytocin gives us the ability to create trust, social bonds and rapport. It enables us to work well in teams, conceive win/win ideas, and prevents us from alienating others. Serotonin gives us the sense of self, status and well-being that we need in order to be able to confidently work through complex needs in business relationships.  Serotonin is particularly important in the process of balancing after winning. If this balance doesn't happen easily or naturally, we need to consciously bring these chemicals into the body in order to alter how we are thinking, feeling and behaving.  At Companies in Motion, we share physical intelligence techniques around breath, movement and how we interact with others – all of which provide us with greater flexibility.

 

These Physical Intelligence techniques will help you enhance your flexibility:

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Generating Innovative/Creative Solutions and Adapting to Others

To reduce cortisol and boost oxytocin, dopamine, DHEA and serotonin:

  • Stretch to release ‘hot spots’ where you hold tension. 

  • Shake out your arms and legs

  • Twist at the waist 2x/day. 

  • Spark creativity by taking a walk or looking at beautiful objects in art/nature.

  • Encourage a combination of convergent and divergent thinking across teams.

Strengthening Interpersonal Relationships and Inspiring Trust

  • Create excellent trusted relationships by balancing your own agenda with those of others, communicating well and flexing your behavioural style to create the chemistry of trust – balance of oxytocin (social bonding and trust), dopamine ( goal-orientation/seeking and gaining reward), and testosterone (independent competitive action), and management of cortisol (threat).

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