Flow State Leadership
An article to explore the fundamentals of FLOW…
Flow State, also known as being “in the zone,” is a state of mind where a person is fully immersed in a task or activity, experiencing a sense of energized focus and complete absorption. Why is this concept so important? Because it unlocks creativity, energy, and enables deep focus. Anyone looking to improve their ability to be agile, innovative, and inspiring can use an understanding of this mental state to develop skills. Carol Dweck has written extensively about the power of unlocking our “mindset” - how we frame the world and how we work within it. Flow is one such mindset (Grit, Resilience, Courage are others).
I am intrigued by this concept and it's the source of my curiosity for what makes great leadership. I have consistently seen that leaders who are able to harness the practice of flow and integrate related practices have less burnout, less periods of cynicism, and generally a better quality of life.
It’s a mindset that leads to increased performance, creativity, and productivity. So how do we get there? How can we build our practices around this? In psychology, there are 26 known Flow State enhancers that can help individuals achieve this optimal state of mind. Each one has deep implications for how you approach your work as a leader, enhancing the ability of your people also to find flow.
Here is the list of practices; which ones will you integrate to your approach to leadership?
Clear goals - having a clear idea of what you want to achieve can help you focus your attention and get into the Flow State more easily. Hot tip! Know the difference between a learning goal and an achievement goal- and when to use each!
Concentration - the ability to focus your attention on the task at hand is essential for achieving Flow State. Everything from the quality of your sleep, the physical space you work in, and your own ability to manage your dopamine rewards play an important part here.
Feedback - getting feedback on your progress can help you adjust your efforts and maintain your focus. Importantly this gives a sense of progress which Theresa Amabile, in her book The Progress Principle, has identified as a key to helping knowledge workers maintain energy for long term success.
Challenge-skill balance - finding the right level of challenge that matches your skills can help you achieve Flow State more easily. Knowing what you know and don’t know, being humble to learn and recognising your larger goals to improve are keys to making sure you are balancing the edge of growth that stays exciting.
Control - feeling in control of the situation can help you reduce anxiety and maintain your focus. That includes knowing when to surrender control to others or stop working on something that no longer is beneficial.
Mental state - being in the right mental state, such as being relaxed, focused, and energized, can help you achieve Flow State. And fundamentally, being aware of your own mental state. Can you observe it? Shift it?
Intensity - the level of intensity of the task can help you get into the Flow State more easily. This is different for everyone, do you need to start with something that gives a quick achievement kick, or do you like diving into the big challenge immediately?
Motivation - feeling motivated and engaged with the task can help you achieve Flow State. Especially if you know how it will benefit the person you are becoming. Motivation for self expression and actualization is much more powerful than achieving a goal for external feedback. However, balancing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is always an important job between collaborators.
Preparation - being prepared and organized can help you reduce distractions and maintain your focus. Especially important in todays culture where our distractions are multitude! Be prepared to shut of the distractions.
Time awareness - being aware of time can help you stay on track and maintain your focus. Time blocking your calendar for deep work is one way to do this.
Environment - having a conducive environment, such as a quiet and comfortable space, can help you achieve Flow State. Knowing what kind of music or no music, lighting, set up- what kind of experience do you want to make possible in your flow?
Self-talk - positive self-talk can help you maintain your confidence and focus on the task at hand. Find ways to empower yourself, notice when your self talk becomes disempowering. If you want to know the difference, ask chat GPT for some additional examples by giving some of the ways you speak to yourself when you want to pump yourself up!
Visualization - visualizing your success can help you achieve Flow State more easily. Especially if the actions you take today have a clear and meaningful path to your vision. Read Source by Dr.Tara Swart if you need a good handbook to get to your vision.
Control of emotions - being able to regulate your emotions, such as anxiety and frustration, can help you maintain your focus.
Distraction control - reducing distractions, such as turning off notifications, can help you maintain your focus. If you need to adress this, as so many of us do, read In-distractable by Nir Ayal.
Risk-taking - taking calculated risks can help you achieve Flow State more easily. Balancing the edge of the comfort zone can make the flow state feel generative.
Flow triggers - identifying the triggers that help you achieve Flow State can help you get into the zone more easily. Test all these practices to see which ones are best for you.
Mindfulness - being present in the moment and aware of your thoughts and feelings can help you achieve Flow State. Have a daily practice, tools to manage moderate and accute stress. The practice gives exponential benefits beyond flow- so find a way that works for your taste and lifestyle. Contemplation, Meditation, Breathing practices, Yoga, Martial arts, creative practice - you name it, there is plenty to choose from!
Autonomy - having control over your own decisions and actions can help you maintain your focus and motivation. Discuss with your manager, partner, or colleague to make sure you feel that you have a say in what you put your time towards!
Novelty - engaging in new and challenging tasks can help you achieve Flow State more easily. This can be true in little things, like drinking new teas every time you sit down, or doing vastly different projects every time.
Purpose - having a sense of purpose and meaning in the task can help you stay motivated and focused. Know that there is a time for flow and a time for more pragmatic work, explore the difference between not only the state you are in when you work but also systematising what you are working on.
Playfulness - approaching the task with a playful attitude can help you achieve Flow State more easily. make your goals fun and meaningful.
Creativity - engaging in creative tasks can help you achieve Flow State more easily. Experiementing with flow state without goals is also a way to trigger flow in creativity.
Social interaction - engaging in social interaction, such as collaborating with others, can help you achieve Flow State. Often, bouncing ideas can help to bring about flow in a relationship - double benefit of doing good work and building trust and intimacy with collaborators.
Mastery - striving for mastery and improvement can help you maintain your focus and motivation.
Mind-body connection - having a strong mind-body connection, such as through exercise and meditation, can help you achieve Flow State more easily.
Wow! That is a lot of practices to choose from! In conclusion, achieving Flow State requires a combination of different factors that can vary depending on the individual and the task at hand. By understanding and applying the 26 known Flow State enhancers, individuals can increase their chances of achieving this optimal state of mind and experiencing the benefits that come with it. Not only will you get more done, but you will feel energized and inspired by it as well!
