PHOTO CREDIT: TYLER STABLEFORD

FLOW M A K E S U R V I V A L M O D E O P T I O N A L

FIGHT, FLIGHT or

RENITA KALHORN | @FLOWJUNKIE | THEFLOWFACTOR.COM

You know that feeling…

when you’re in the flow

” “ That state where you’re fully immersed in an

activity, feeling energized focus, full involvement and enjoyment in the process. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

“ ”

It’s just this supreme confidence that you know it’s going in. It’s not a matter of if, it’s going in.

Things slow down. You just have supreme confidence.

Kobe Bryant

And it’s powerful. According to a 10-year McKinsey study, top executives reported being five times more productive in flow.

SOURCE: HTTP://WWW.MCKINSEY.COM/INSIGHTS/ORGANIZATION/INCREASING_THE_MEANING_QUOTIENT_OF_WORK

“ ” Sir Richard Branson

In two hours [in flow], I can accomplish tremendous things. It’s like there’s no challenge I can’t meet.

James Slavet calls “flow state percentage” — the amount of time employees spend in flow— the most important management metric for building great innovation teams.

Let me get this straight.

So, if flow is so great for

performance, productivity and innovation, why

don’t we experience it more often?

Because even though there are few actual threats

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To our immediate physical survival

CREDIT: WWW.123RF.COM/PROFILE_ALPHASPIRIT

We’re still living in survival mode

Constantly scanning our environment for potential threats. It’s not a time for growth, creation or “single-minded immersion in an activity.”

What’s that about?

What’s with you humans – why are

you still living in survival mode?

Let’s start with three reasons:

We live in a volatile and uncertain world (and we’re constantly reminded of it) 1

Perceived “social threats” – to our status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness and fairness* - trigger “fight or flight” reactions the same way physical threats do. *SCARF social neuroscience model: David Rock, NeuroLeadership Institute

2

3 We’re on autopilot, programmed by our habits to make the same choices

driven by instant gratification and distraction

We’re snorkeling through life

instead of diving deep in full engagement

This is a waste of evolution

Thanks to an evolving brain, we can respond more rationally to “fight or flight” triggers.

DON’T THINK, REACT!

Wait, is my life really in danger?

With training, we can develop “mental muscles:” focus, resilience, empathy, curiosity, courage.

Survival mode is optional. We can decide in every moment how to respond.

S U R V I V A L ( k n o w n )

P A S T

C R E A T I O N / F L O W ( u n k n o w n )

N O W

S U R V I V A L C R E A T I O N / F L O W

A T T E N T I O N O N body + environment + time

internal world

V O I C E O F inner critic + ego intuition

E M O T I O N S O F “survival:“ fear, anxiety, frustration, resentment, anger…

high-frequency: excitement, gratitude, love, joy...

F O C U S O N past (the familiar) present (the unknown)

S E N S E O F being out of control being in control

P R O D U C E stress hormones: cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline

“feel-good” hormones: dopamine, serotonin, endorphins

Because seriously, how much of your life do you want to spend in survival mode?

SURVIVAL

flow where the best stuff happens

“I’ve been able to reach higher levels of productivity (completing on average 35% more of my tasks each week with a focus on higher ROI activities), shatter company sales goals (reaching sales targets well ahead of my company’s expectations and causing a revision of double the revenues from my region before the close of the year) and – probably most important – a work/life balance that allows me to enjoy every step of this amazing journey.”

When you could be in the flow… “…stretching my boundaries and in the zone. I’ve been getting more work done in the morning than most full days!”

“I had black belts in procrastination, fear and self sabotage. Renita has been invaluable in breaking down my limiting and self imposed beliefs and providing a structure for me to achieve what I am aiming for, she has kept me ‘in the flow.’”

FLOW? create with more What could you and your team

renita@theflowfactor.com @flowjunkie

Psst, Renita’s a Juilliard-trained concert pianist and martial arts black belt with an MBA from INSEAD. She’s passionate about unlocking human potential and works with entrepreneur CEOs, their teams and Navy SEAL candidates on leadership and mental toughness training.

Let’s talk.