“The best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times… they usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits.”
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Psychologist, “Father of Flow
The thing about stretching yourself is that it’s important to find the sweet spot.
If the challenge is too easy, then boredom might ensue. If it’s too hard then you might feel overwhelmed and not start.
The magic happens when you’re operating just at the edge of your current ability – enough stretch to grow, not so much that you break.
One thing you could do this week to reduce friction and increase flow:
- Individual’s Tip: Notice what drains you vs. what energises you. Pick one skill that feels just out of reach. Set a timer for 30 minutes, 3 times this week. Practice with full focus – no phone, no distractions.
- Team Leader Tip: Give your team a challenge that’s hard but not impossible. Make it clear that “good enough” attempts count. Celebrate the effort, not just success.
- Executive Leader: Pick one Friday afternoon. Let teams choose a problem that scares them a bit. Give them permission to fail. Share what they learned on Monday.
