I'd call it perfectly normal if you felt like you had the 'twisties' during July. That's a term used in gymnastics that you may recall from the 2016 Tokyo Olympic Games. This experience sets in when a gymnast does high-level elements on the floor or vault, and it becomes difficult to compartmentalize the exact element a gymnast's body is attempting. One gymnast described the experience of twisties this way. "The rhythm is off, and your brain will stutter step for half a second, and that's enough to throw off the whole skill." Fast forward to the Paris Olympics that opened in July. While we are all in awe of Simone Biles' athletic artistry, Time Magazine resurfaced her challenge with the twisties that resulted in an exit from the Tokyo Olympic Games. Matthew Sacco, a sports psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic, describes the twisties as "a mental block that creates a dangerous disconnect between mind and body while gymnasts are airborne. Suddenly, there's a disconnect in the feedback loop; the brain and body are no longer communicating efficiently, and that causes a gymnast to lose sense of where their body is in space while they're in the air."

Leaders I coach report twistie-like symptoms as they navigate intensity in the workplace, industry upheaval, unpredictable economics, and the blistering see-saw of political fortunes. How did Simone restore herself and return to her extraordinary capacity to perform gravity-defying moves? Here's a page out of the coaching book for athletes that works for leaders and everyone feeling out of sorts this summer. Try this out to transform twisties into nifties, the skillful and effective traits that bring your essence front and center.

• Focus on the basic building block skills you embody with ease and flow, i.e., focus on what's working for you versus what's not.
• Use confident skills and allow time to acknowledge and feel successful.
• Create opportunities for soft landing when risk is essential to accept, i.e., partner with others and enroll allies to advocate for you and your initiatives.
• Be diligent with practices to activate your parasympathetic nervous system:
• Breathing techniques ~ my personal favorite is Square (or Box) Breathing that hacks overwhelm. There is no Olympic athleticism here; keep it simple and gentle.
  1. Breathe out slowly, releasing all the air from your lungs.
  2. Breathe in through your nose as you slowly count to four in your head. Be conscious of how the air fills your stomach and your lungs.
  3. Hold your breath for a count of four.
  4. Exhale for another count of four.
  5. Hold your breath again for a count of four.
  6. Repeat for three to four rounds.
• Change your routines ~ notice habits that trap your mind in stinkin' thinkin' and when those happen in your day so you can shake up your schedule.
• Take more frequent breaks ~ spend time away from screens and go outside into nature, hearing the sounds of birds and wind in the trees and feeling the sun on your body.
• Visualize what you want ~ "At least once a day, let your imagination get in the way." Isaac Webb, 19th Century Shipbuilder
• Spend more time with people you love and who love you so you can restore connection to your personal and professional "why."

The slower pace that August represents in summer or winter (depending on your location) presents a unique opportunity for intentional introspection. The quiet, still moments we carve out for ourselves activate curiosity, wonder, and the essential imagination to originate new visions for navigating our lives. Set aside personal time focused on what you long for in your life and what you could choose to pursue on the path to that. Those moments build energy in your body to motivate action that turns daydreams into lived experiences.

What steps will you chart out in your pursuit of personal and professional growth? How will you pave the way for your enrichment and advancement? Should you require support, you're welcome to reach out, and we'll be by your side every step of the way, helping you create a bespoke development calendar to steer your progress. Often, talking your ideas out loud with a well-trained listener (aka a professional coach ~ especially a generative coach!) brings clarity and practicality that focuses attention more quickly to move into action. As always, our Newsletter offers you a variety of free resources to stimulate your imagination, activate your inspiration, and anchor your resolve to maximize your potential personally and professionally. The Coaching Inn podcast, which releases on 7 August, features host Clair Pedrick, MCC, along with Dorothy Siminovitch, Ph.D., MCC, and myself, and offers a profound and joyous exploration of the future horizon of professional coaching built upon the successes of the past thirty years. I'm confident you will find insight and stimulating ideas as you listen. I am also honored to be a guest with host and executive coach Eddie Turner, PCC, for his episode of the Keep Leading! Podcast on 13 August. Both podcasts have vast episodes that provide ideas, skills, knowledge, and inspiration. So, FOLLOW them and keep diving in for your development as leaders and coaches.

In the quest for growth and transformation, allow the journey to be as enriching as the envisioned destination. Engage a coach, be a leader who coaches, become a coach, and create a coaching environment everywhere, empowering everyone you meet and touch each day to harness their inherent potential, fostering a renewed sense of optimism, dignity, and confidence.

Keep loving your life’s work and enjoy the month!

Janet