FED leadership is all about conscious practice, being aware of who we need to be to in order to be at our best more of the time including what we may need to “let go of”. In this post Steve Holliday, regular FED post contributor, writes about what he realised he needed to let go of…

I met some colleagues recently and a question was asked, “What are you holding onto, that’s not helping you and you just need to let go of?”

After hearing from others, I shared mine – “speed”. Why?

In my work I’ve been more consciously “practising” slowing down – being even more calm, smooth and effortless when I engage others.

In my open water swimming, I’d started as a good “practice swimmer”, being calm, smooth and effortless in the water, using every stroke as an opportunity to lay down great habits – knowing speed and fitness would follow – and yet I’d lost my way and got injured recently.

I’d drifted into “workout swimming” – water splashing and increased stroke force, as I clocked the times. This relentless focus on “speed alone”, felt physically harder, and more mentally gruelling.

I’d been lured into “trying harder” to be “faster”. How?

I HEAR it – “how fast, how far, and how hard can you swim, Steve?” – Never “how simple and easy can you swim, Steve?”

I SEE it – many swimmers DO pound the water – having “speed” and “force” seems to matter – “working out” matters more than “skilled practice” it seems.

I FEEL it – I compare myself to others “speed”, though I know abilities vary, and basic physics tells me 70% of speed comes from relaxed smooth skilful technique.

Let me be clear – “speed” is important to me – in my clients success AND my swimming – though never at the expense of an opportunity to learn a craft, that offers a lifetime of being calm, smooth and effortless, either with my clients or with open water.

Leadership Nudges: What do you need to “let go of”, to be more of the leader you want to be? How are you balancing “working out” with “skilful practice” as a leader? How are you making your leadership how you want it to be for yourself and others?

By Steve Holliday

Learn more about Steve Holliday, the author of this article.