In the belief that sustained leadership requires balancing mental, emotional, and physical health in a demanding world, IMD’s Orchestrating Winning Performance offers a series of activities for the ‘complete executive.’ The aim is to help participants maintain a balance of physical health (i.e. a healthy diet and regular exercise), emotional health (i.e. enriching experiences with family and friends, as well as active hobbies), and mental health (i.e. managing stress and maintaining motivation), both inside and outside of work.
Among the activities offered, Mindful Meditation by Nicole Steffen, was a pleasant surprise for many of the participants as they stretched into yoga positions.
“It’s important to take care of your body. That way, your energy will be stronger and your performance better,” explained yoga coach Nicole Steffen, as she invited a sea of smartly-dressed executives to abandon themselves to her instructions. In a soft, voice she explained that they would be required to do nothing: “Just listen to me. I am going to ask you to move just a little and breathe deeply.”
For close to an hour, OWP participants followed her instructions in silence, almost all with their eyes shut, as Steffen guided them through the simple exercises that release tension and stress. “Don’t think about anything. Maybe for a few moments you will be in another world, but don’t sleep,” she said teaching them to let go.
At the same time, Mark Guilbert, an International Business Health Management Presenter and founder of MG Business Health Solutions, was reinforcing the importance of restorative sleep in one of his three sessions focusing on being physically prepared, mentally engaged and emotionally connected. “Taking care of your body is taking care of business,” he titled the activity, rooted in the belief that society benefits from our contribution to initiate change and inspire when we are in the best of shape.
Another activity was “Speed Portraits” by Sylvia Ischer, a visual facilitator, and Elizabeth Auzan, an independent coach in communication skills and a graphic facilitator. The two gave an artistic workshop that used art to connect the left and right brain and to emphasize the power of observation.
Other enriching sessions included learning home and travel workouts with Patricia Soave, founder and director of Wellness Attitude and articulating what you want to express better by speaking with impact using voice and body language. This session was given by Maria Wilhelmsson.
While some were focusing on wellbeing and art, drones were also flying with new technologies being explored as IMD’s Global Center for Digital Business Transformation opened its doors to share trends shaping businesses and lifestyles. For the occasion the center also released the new book Digital Vortex: How Today’s Market Leaders Can Beat Disruptive Competitors at Their Own Game.
The IMD World Competitiveness Center also hosted a session about competing (and living) in an uncertain world.
Learn more about IMD’s Orchestrating Winning Performance program, offered November 2016 in Singapore.
