Created on the foundations of Aikido and mindfulness by Wendy Palmer, Leadership Embodiment (LE) is an approach, and a set of practices, for cultivating presence, confidence and compassion. Resources that are much needed when the deeper activated narrative of humanity at the moment is increasingly one of uncertainty, volatility, disconnection, separation, fracture and opposition.
LE is a model that focuses on the “embodiment” of leadership. Embodiment is defined as, “A tangible or visible form of an idea, quality, or feeling”. Through its focus on embodiment LE is a highly practical approach. It emphasizes how we show up in the world, developing our capacity to be present in a centred and inclusive way, even in challenging circumstances. Centre is a high functioning state.
Whilst hosting Wendy’s workshops through The Beyond Partnership for a number of years I was fortunate to be trained by her and to become the first person in Europe she certified to teach Conscious Embodiment now Leadership Embodiment. For over 10 years I have shared this approach in open workshops and inside organisations across Europe and in the Far East.
I deeply value the efficacy and integrity of this work and what it offers people. I have been engaged in the field of human development for more than thirty years and have found little to equal its effectiveness and also its depth, in such a short time frame.
We use the body in LE as it allows learning and development to be accelerated.
The learning and practices of Leadership Embodiment are simple yet profound.
We learn how to shift from our anxious, stressed and reactive states, caught by the world, to a centred state of balance, openness and creativity.
We learn how to shift from a feeling of separation and opposition to engage from of place of ‘we are in this together’.
We learn how to speak up with clarity and confidence and to openly listen without taking things personally.
We practice shifting from tensing against life’s challenges to relaxing into life’s challenges. As one participant recently said, “It is counter intuitive to discover that with softening you become stronger and more resourceful.”
The Level 1 and Level 2 workshops both attract 14 ICF CCEUs.
“Paul is an excellent facilitator and not only shared the content of the workshop but worked with each individual to coach them through their own learning. I would highly recommend this work to anyone in the coaching or leadership field.”
Nancy Hughes, MCC, Vincere Coaching Pte Ltd
“I wanted also to share with you the fact that I have attended Wendy Palmer’s retreat last week in France and this was an intense moment. ……I have found again with Wendy the subtle and precise work I had discovered in Level One with you. So thanks again for introducing the subject the way you are doing , honouring the source and inspiring the path for those who want to go further.”
Valerie Vanruymbeke, France
“I feel genuinely empowered with a more embodied awareness of my tendency to see others as resistors and then engage in resistance myself, which is a futility exercise. It occurred to me this weekend that many of the things that “come at me” in life – emails, needs from my team, family demands (or perceived demands) – I over-engage/invest in addressing such items, at a cost to my greater purpose/needs. I’ve a hunch that my excessive busyness, taking the place of self-care and “peace” in life, is because I get lost engaging in this ‘resistance’ versus staying on purpose.”
MC, Pharmaceutical Executive
“I experienced this course as full of powerful yet subtle learnings: the body as our Centre of Being, letting the body lead the way, waking up to what our body is telling us, going forward by standing still, that our support is always behind us, stepping towards the problem without defending or armouring. All these I believe are still with me and percolating into my daily life and work. It was holism in action.”
Gordon Symons, Energy & Resilience Consultant
“The embodiment helps me to settle and open me for self-trust and focus. I experience a new quality of confidence when dealing with my customers. Slowly also in private life I take over more responsibility for realizing my visions. It feels good for me and my environment.”
Iris,
Read, ‘A Participant’s Experience’
These workshops will cover all the material from Wendy Palmer’s Leadership Embodiment Level 1.
As a leader, coach, teacher, or whatever your work, you will be able to practically apply the learning from this workshop to your life. We will work with activities engaging the body, not just the head. You will work in pairs and on your own and receive one to one coaching support. We will take time for conversations and reflection on applications to the ‘real world’.
“The way we sit, and stand can change the way we think and speak.” Wendy Palmer
See Events section for more information.
This workshop is open to people who have completed the Level 1 workshop. For anyone wanting to progress to Level 2 please note that in the LE programme we require that there is at least a 6-8 week gap between attending Level 1 and attending Level 2. This is to give time for people to practice, embody and embed the learning from Level 1 before progressing. Indeed for anyone really wanting to work deeply with this approach we would encourage you to consider repeating the Level 1 programme at some point in time, perhaps before taking the Level 2. (I offer a discount for people repeating Level 1)
Level 2 extends and deepens your Level 1 learning and practices. There are new activities and extensions to Level 1 activities. Level 2 is about learning how to centre and find balance inside, and alongside, greater amounts of energy. This is explored for example by increasing the speed and frequency of the ‘triggers’ we work with and with the use of bokken (wooden swords) which quite naturally raise our energy patterns.
See Events section for more information.
“I have now attended two level 2 Leadership Embodiment weekends with Paul. Paul is flexible in his style and uses his skill and experience to tailor the practices to the needs/request of participants. He works with people in a very intuitive way and offers insightful alternatives and suggestions to help you discover more about yourself and others. I have learnt a lot about myself from embodiment work with Paul and look forward to this continuing. I have increased my ability to tap in to my “quiet power” through the practices that I use both in my work and in my life – this enables me to wield more influence in a way that includes others. Paul’s approach is fun and light but also grounded in his extensive understanding of many other complementary fields of knowledge which link well with somatic practices. I highly recommend Paul’s Leadership Embodiment work. You’ll wish you’d met him years ago – I do!!”
Annie Pearson, Head of Business Transformation, NHS
“The Level 2 Leadership Embodiment course was a well organised and lively event that gave me opportunity to revise the concepts and exercises that I learnt during level 1 and expand my understanding and practice of Leadership Embodiment. I use some of the exercises daily and notice the benefits in myself and how I interact with others. Paul is an excellent facilitator who creates a trusting and supporting atmosphere. I strongly recommend this course to all who have already completed the level 1 training.”
Dr Katalin Illes, Principal Lecturer in Leadership and Development, University of Westminster
“Thanks a lot for the week-end. It was brilliant and I thoroughly enjoyed the Level 2 training. Having already done level 1 Leadership Embodiment & Somatic Intelligence with Paul, I can only recommend this level 2 as well. Where level 1 laid the groundwork for me, level 2 took the whole somatic self-awareness and leadership pattern experience so much deeper. Each exercise brought with it its own revelations, insights and shifts supported by Paul’s intuitive facilitation style and space holding. It was such a gift to be able to bring my deeply help habitual patterns into conscious awareness in a safe and fun environment, accept them for what they are and allow them to shift at their own pace. Paul’s targeted feedback and suggestions were immensely helpful and allowed me to discover a number of previous blindspots that I can now work on.”
Bettina Pickering, Director, Aronagh – Consultancy, Training and Coaching
