The ability to respond with composure in conversations or situations that feel threatening is a learned behavior and can be accomplished with simple shifts in posture and breathing and lots of practice. These shifts in physical and emotional responses will be taught this month in a two-day workshop led by CIT Senior Project Manager Graham Hall.

Decoding non-verbal communication

He was first intrigued by improving his non-verbal communication skills and stress management strategies when he met Wendy Palmer at a leadership conference in 2007.  “At the time, I was working on a very complex project with a large team comprised of CIT, departmental staff, and contractors. A perspective to help foster collaboration and problem solving was enormously helpful,” said Hall.

“After I benefitted from learning the Leadership Embodiment practices, I felt compelled to help others learn them so that they too could benefit from tools to navigate the complexities and challenges of their work and lives. I committed to the extensive training to certify as a Leadership Embodiment coach and trainer.”

Overcoming Fight or Flight Instincts

Recognizing and recovering from our body’s automatic and unique fight or flight instincts is one of the primary goals in the Leadership Embodiment workshop. Hall said, “The sooner we can recognize our unique personal stress response which attempts to retain or regain control, approval, and safety, the quicker we can shift to a more skillful perspective. The Leadership Embodiment practices provide a practical strategy to positively impact difficult challenges by shifting to a calm and curious state from initially being reactive and defensive.”

Working in pairs guided by Hall, participants will learn a practice to recover their center and respond with just a little more grace and ease. One of the workshop exercises teaches participants how to advocate for something that is important to them and that they really care about. Efforts to move that idea forward in the face of opposition are often ineffective, leading to a stalemate, giving up, or forcefully ploughing ahead.

“Then we learn the advocating exercise in stages, to experience a more skillful and effective way to bring our intention into the world,” said Hall.

“When participants try this practice, they are surprised that the person that represents opposition to their intention ends up gently walking backwards with their resistance melting away.  The looks of bewilderment, surprise and delight on participants faces is priceless! They want to immediately repeat the exercise because their rational minds can’t make sense of it!”

The workshop takes place at the HR training facility in the East Hill Office Building (EHOB). A few seats remain in the next Leadership Embodiment training Feb 22-23 2024, offered through Cornell’s Professional Development Programs. Register on the CULearn HR2054 course website.