I’ve always loved moving my body: fast, strong, balanced, focused. From clipping into skis and bikes to swinging rackets and clubs, lifting kettlebells, hiking mountains, and holding steady in a sweaty yoga pose, I’ve tested my limits physically and mentally for as long as I can remember.
And I love it.
Not just for how it makes me feel, but for what it teaches me about mindset, discipline, and resilience. Lately, I’ve been noticing a pattern in my workouts that has everything to do with leadership.
I train in three modes:
Stillness. Steady State. Surge.
Each one develops a different kind of strength. Each one matters. And each one has a powerful leadership parallel.
Stillness
Stillness tests focus. It’s holding a pose that burns. It’s staying in discomfort when your mind wants out. In leadership, stillness is the pause—the space to reflect, listen deeply, and stay grounded. It’s the patience to not react right away. To observe. To lead with intention.
Hard? Yes. But in that stillness is where clarity lives.
Steady State
Steady state builds endurance. In movement, it’s the commitment to show up in your training run, your long bike ride, your daily discipline. In leadership, it’s the rhythm of consistency, showing up, following through, making thoughtful decisions, earning trust over time.
Steady doesn’t mean slow. It means reliable. Intentional. Clear. This is how culture is built.
Surge
Surge is the sprint, the all-out push in a moment that demands it. In training, it’s a burst of speed, a heavy lift, an interval set. In leadership, it’s crisis response, bold moves, high-stakes decisions.
You act fast. You rally others. You carry weight.
But just like in training, you can’t live here. Surge requires recovery. Without it, you burn out.
Why All Three Matter
Most of us have a default mode.
Maybe you’re great in a crisis but struggle with patience. Maybe you thrive in the daily grind but avoid the bold moves. Maybe you pause too long and miss the moment to lead.
Resilient leaders train for all three:
- Stillness brings clarity and presence.
- Steady state brings consistency and influence.
- Surge brings action and momentum.
Each mode requires different muscles. Together, they create leadership range.
A Leadership Practice
Ask yourself:
- Am I making time for stillness, or rushing nonstop?
- Can I lead well in the everyday, not just in emergencies?
- Do I know when to surge, and how to recover?
Leadership fitness isn’t about going hard all the time.
It’s about knowing which gear to use, and when.
Stillness. Steady State. Surge.
Train all three, and lead with strength, balance, and readiness.
