People Development & Executive Coaching

There is much thinking, writing and information around today about - "getting in the flow". One of the highest regarded in this field is Mihaly Csikszentmihaly (I know, try and pronounce that!). He is a Professor at the Drucker School of Management in California. If you haven't read his book "Flow" I can recommend it!

You are 'in the flow' when you are totally absorbed in what you are doing. Time is quite forgotten and you may not notice others and may not hear sounds around you. Give me the chance to get my fingers into the earth in my vegetable garden and I am in the flow! The thrill of digging potatoes, pulling carrots and beetroot, and cutting my own lettuces is true nirvana. I can sit with my unripe tomatoes and encourage them to redden for hours while weeding and feeding them - I am lost to the vagaries of the world and the demands of my i-phone! In fact time becomes irrelevant.

Being in the flow means you are happy and contented. Although the activity usually has meaning and purpose, it has a "looking forward to component" that is crucial.

A few years ago I collaborated with a Company called The Zone. What a great name, as zone is another word for flow. Athletes talk about being in the zone, when they are not thinking about how well or how badly they are performing, but are just responding in the moment to whatever is happening. Watch a tennis great like Roger Federer and you will experience what flow is. Dare I mention his name, but Tiger Woods is another example of being in the flow when he is playing in a golf championship!

I am sure you can think of examples when you are in, or have been in the flow. I often get my clients to think about this and get told stories about painting a wonderful picture, driving a racing car, tramping in the wilderness, watching a sunset, taking a photograph, cooking something new that’s spectacular, and spending time with children and loved ones.

So how can you get more flow in your life? How does it become evident to you at work? How much do you enjoy what you do?

Come and talk to us at Tonic if you would like to explore this further.

Angela Neighbours