Back in the Flow
After many years of working for myself, stepping into a bustling office with over 1,200 people has been quite a shift, not just in the environment itself, but in the new rhythm for me of travelling most days to Perth.
The pace of corporate life has returned to my life, and it is relentless!
Processes, procedures, and meetings stack up fast in my inbox and Teams.
Decisions are a constant, with priorities shifting continuously.
There is also a buzz, excitement and energy in the air too.
But amid all that motion, I’ve noticed there’s something more subtle happening.
Yesterday, I began observing a new leadership programme here at Aviva’s Perth office, a listed building built in the late 1970’s as an HQ for General Accident, with beautiful Japanese style gardens.
The Power of the Pause
As I watched people arrive, settle, and begin to engage, what stood out wasn’t just the structure of the sessions, it was the power of pausing.
In a corporate setting where everything runs at full tilt, it was fascinating to see people start to slow down and take some time to think.
To truly listen and engage.
To be and to stay present with each other.
It reminded me that effective leadership isn’t just about drive, oftentimes it’s much more about depth.
And sometimes, the most valuable progress happens when people stop rushing long enough to think clearly, connect genuinely, and reflect honestly.
Many were curious.
Others a little vulnerable.
Many were considering, maybe for the first time in a while, what kind of leader they really want to be and what was there why.
Rolling up my sleeves and getting stuck in has been both energising and tiring!
There’s momentum here, and excitement about what’s ahead and we’ve just begun the journey, as have I.
There’s also a hunger to lead the way.
But there’s also wisdom in making time to find some quiet space in the noise of corporate life, for thought, for perspective, for growth and importantly for slowing down.
It’s in the quietness there, in the thinking time, and in being fully present, that I can already see many finding their strength.
What might shift if you gave yourself more time to think and to pause more often?
