3 Critical Ways Qigong Can Increase Your Power as a Business Leader

Few would question the fact that we are in the midst of a global crisis. This is true across all spectrums of human life — political, cultural, economic and in particular — the business world. Of course, the reality in our modern era is that everything is business.

Among the American public, distrust of institutions (in particular corporations) has spiked during the recent COVID 19 pandemic.  A recent Harris Poll indicated that 91% of the American public believes corporations should place “people over profits.” We are at a critical crossroads in how our society will fare in this generation and for any that may follow.  Whether they want to, or not, business leaders are shouldering the responsibility for this responsible change.  Some refer to this, “The Great Reset.”

This crisis in leadership is very real and very costly. The Chinese character for “crisis” can also translate as “opportunity.” As a leadership development and self-care consultant who has worked with business leaders globally, I saw this leadership crisis on the horizon acutely long before the  COVID 19 pandemic.

The COVID 19 pandemic has been a significant blow to the global economy. Yet, if business leaders have the courage to quickly make some wise micro-changes, this “crisis” can be transformed into a powerful “opportunity” — personally and economically, within us as individuals and our organizations.

“Organizations” do not really exist.  These conceptual legal entities are merely a place holder that individual humans “show up” to in order to fulfill collective goals.  Wise business leaders understand that only by majorly prioritizing investment into the individual human beings that make up their organization can their mission and goals become reality.

The new reality post (?) COVID-19 indicates that much more is expected of business leaders than at any time in the history of Capitalism. According to a recent Just Capital and Harris Poll, 89% of Americans agree that the COVID–19 crisis is providing an opportunity for corporations to hit reset and focus on doing right by their workers, customers, and communities.  It is a brand-new day for businesses to make the right changes to help them thrive.

What are some of these “micro-changes” that business leaders can enact now in their lives and within the culture of their organizations?  One of the key changes business leaders can incorporate into their organizations is a tangible, pragmatic and economic commitment to employee wellness and self-care.

By this, we are not talking about stereotypical “bubble bath and chocolates” images of self-care.  We are referring specifically to scientifically and clinically demonstrated health benefits that emanate from directly from consistent training in deep, diaphragmatic breathing.  It is that simple.

We have to train the people in our organizations to relearn how to slow down every few moments to deeply breath.  This will help our people to manage stress, reduce damaging cortisol levels, and renew their focus and clarity towards the work tasks at hand.

We bring all of ourselves to our work; our intellect, our emotions, our personal lives and our bodies.  The easiest way to improve our mental and physical health is through integrating simple training in deep diaphragmatic breathing via a clinically proven mind-body modality like Qigong.  Companies that provide this training and support for their staff will reap massive R.O.I.

One of the key concerns of both HR and employees is staying healthy with a strong immune system.  Qigong was ideally designed to boost our immune system function as well as our overall energy levels and strength. Qigong in the basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine and has been time-tested for millennia.

Besides the obvious physiological strengthening benefits of Qigong, it can also be used to increase our mental and emotional resiliency, which is so necessary in our uncertain economic context.  In the “Qigong for Peak Business Performance” courses from Download Qi, there are also cognitive, subliminal, kinetic and neural pathway exercises to increase business leader’s inner strength.

Qigong has been used for millennia by Chinese monks, scholars, warriors, and statesmen to increase one’s mental focus.  There is an odd synergy that takes place when doing Qigong, where the neural pathways are trained to focus on details; the breath pattern, the position of the hand, the rhythm of the gentle movements, etc.  The movements enhance the mind’s ability to zero in on its target via a laser focus.

There are also specific affirmations, cognitive exercises, and the development of intuition and mental flexibility that can all be amplified to produce a laser focus.  It is through the regular practice of these extremely simple movements and the clarity of mind they bring that will produce maximum efficiency and performance from staff — with less effort.

One of the key lessons that came from the challenging business context of the COVID 19 Pandemic was that business leaders are respected more (and hence, actually followed more) by being authentic.  Authenticity and flexibility are the new expectations of relevant business leaders today.  Yet, how can you train business leaders to enhance these qualities?  Is it even possible to do so, or is that simply either a core element of one’s personality?

Authenticity and flexibility CAN be enhanced through your HR Department’s training  and development.  Yet, it requires utilizing all available channels to train leaders in these skills; cognitive education, subliminal training, and neural pathway development through the kinetic movements that Qigong provides.

The capacity to lead others with authenticity and flexibility require that business leaders be fully present, fully aware and sensitive to themselves and their environment.  Our emotional intelligence is directly related to business leaders being trained to feel at home in their bodies.

Having one’s personality grounded in self-understanding and mindful breathing can bring business leaders into a sphere of utilizing “Centered Power.”  Centered Power comes simply by training business leaders to unify (into one whole cohesive unit) their mind, body, and will.  Only from that space can they manifest the authenticity and flexibility that emanates from a lack of defensiveness.  Confidence is embodied.

To learn more about developing your organizations leaders Inner Strength, Laser Focus, and Centered Power, connect with Download Qi about their hybrid training options available.  “Qigong for Peak Business Performance” is a radically cost efficient way to help yourself or your staff be prepared for the next round of challenges they will face in this “Brave New World.”