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Bridging the Performance Gap: Turning Knowledge into Action


Every leader knows more than they do. It's the silent struggle of bridging the gap between knowledge and action. Pierre, a coaching client and a brilliant leader, faces a common frustration: knowing the right thing to do but struggling to implement it in the moment.


"Manu, asking for help is not a sign of vulnerability. I even push my team to ask for support! It’s a powerful tool to connect and create value. Still, I don’t do it."


This is a common situation for leaders. It’s what Harvard professor Erica Fox calls the PERFORMANCE GAP—the gap between who you are (and what you do) and who you aspire to be in specific circumstances. In embodied leadership coaching, we learn to close this gap. We learn to take actions that were previously not accessible to us, even under pressure.


So, how do we close the Performance Gap?


These are practical Steps with Impact


  1. Identify the Gap: The first step is clarity. Pinpoint where performance falls short of potential.

  2. Build Self-Awareness: Recognize beliefs, bodily sensations, and emotional patterns at the root of the gap.

  3. Set Clear Objectives: Define success not just by metrics, but by the behavior and impact you want to see.

  4. Learn Centering Practices: Ground yourself with practices that keep you focused and resilient under pressure.

  5. Cultivate Presence: Cultivate full engagement and awareness in the present moment for better focus and decisions.

  6. Develop New Habits: Consistent practice transforms behavior. Replace limiting habits with empowering ones.

  7. Align Values and Actions: Your actions should mirror your core values and vision.

  8. Feedback and Reflection: Constantly seek and reflect on feedback to refine your approach.


Leadership isn't just about knowledge; it's about action. Experienced leaders often know what to do, but the day-to-day reality gets in the way. As long as our learning is not in our muscle, every day, each time we need it, we haven’t learned anything. This is where embodied leadership coaching creates value. By integrating these steps into your routine, you transform not just yourself, but your entire organization. Let’s turn knowing into doing.

 

For more insights and to explore how embodied leadership can enhance your team’s performance, check here


Manu


Manu Henrard is a Executive Somatic Coach and an Executive Recruiter based in Brussels. He is also an associate from the Strozzi Institute for embodied leadership. Manu's professional commitment is to help leaders increase meaningful productivity and achieve inner peace. More about his coaching program here.


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