In Amplifiers this past quarter, we have been focused on mastering peak performance states of Flow. A crucial aspect of being able to sustain peak leadership performance is recovery. The biochemical surge we get in peak flow states needs to be processed and replenished if we are to access this state again.
A flow state will come and go but recovery should always be part of your leadership toolkit
Physical recovery
The fundamentals apply: plenty of sleep, focus on hydration and good nutrition. Do some active recovery like walking, yoga, or other form of gentle exercise.
Emotional recovery
Nurture your social connections! Hanging out with friends and loved ones helps us meet all of our human needs, not just our high performance ones.
Mental recovery
Just sitting and being helps the brain to clean out toxins and allows the subconscious to process the data overload we may have experienced during the earlier flow cycles. Avoid additional inputs and just get present to where you are.
Spiritual recovery
Whatever your beliefs, gratitude is an essential practice. We are not here on the planet for long, we can always be thankful for the whisper of time that has been granted us. Take life seriously, and live it lightly.
Refresh your leadership mindset with moments of mindfulness
My personal hot list for recovery:
Reading a novel
Baking
Running or walking in nature
Swimming in the ocean
Sitting on my deck, watching the trees and listening to the birds
Talking with my family
Watching a favourite show with my honey
Reflecting on my life and adventures
What strategies could you adopt for better recovery?
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Related Articles:
How to be brilliant with the neuroscience of the Flow cycle
Mind Your Mojo: Essential strategy for boundless leaders
Boundless Leadership: Morning routine to help you evolve as a leader
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About the author, Canberra leadership expert Zoë Routh:
Canberra based leadership expert, Zoë Routh, share energy recovery tips for leadership effectiveness.
Zoë Routh is one of Australia’s leading experts on people stuff - the stuff that gets in our way of producing results, and the stuff that lights us up. She works with the growers, makers, builders to make people stuff fun and practical.
Zoë is the author of four books: Composure - How centered leaders make the biggest impact, Moments - Leadership when it matters most, Loyalty - Stop unwanted staff turnover, boost engagement, and build lifelong advocates, and People Stuff - Beyond Personalities: An advanced handbook for leadership. People Stuff was awarded Book of the Year 2020 by the Smart WFM Australian Business Book Awards.
Zoë is also the producer of The Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast.