Leading Consciously: Staying Relational with Presence and Attunement | by Allison Schultz | Reboot: Better Humans Make Better Leaders & Better Leaders Create Humane Workplaces. | Medium

I t’s been said that the fundamental unit of work is a conversation. You’d think that would make working simple, yet when there are people involved it can be anything but. When two nervous systems meet, there may be a lot happening for each person individually that affects the other and the space between. For example, when your blood boils, or you find yourself spinning stories in your head in the middle of a conversation, it’s hard to be with another person much less be in a collaborative space to get work done together effectively. What does it take to stay relational? A lot - it turns out. Staying relational means noticing yourself when you’re upregulated or triggered, knowing your fear responses, and being able to self-regulate. It means noticing the other, getting curious about what’s happening for them without making up stories, and asking open honest questions or extending empathy. How present you are able to be over the course of a conversation determines how well you’ll be abl

I t’s been said that the fundamental unit of work is a conversation. You’d think that would make working simple, yet when there are people involved it can be anything but. When two nervous systems meet, there may be a lot happening for each person individually that affects the other and the space between. For example, when your blood boils, or you find yourself spinning stories in your head in the middle of a conversation, it’s hard to be with another person much less be in a collaborative space to get work done together effectively. What does it take to stay relational? A lot - it turns out.