Abstract:

In the workplace we are constantly pressured to be productive and produce results. But something is missing for many of us. Maybe it’s passion for what we do, cohesion with our teams, creativity to reach new heights, the means to make a transformation, or a feeling of being understood. How can we find that missing piece and put it into its proper place? We need to train our minds to dance, not just metaphorically, but literally. Change requires action and movement and the motion of dance alters your state of mind and helps you deliver successful performances of all kinds.

Bestselling author, Valeh Nazemoff, shares in her book titled "The Dance of the Business Mind: Strategies to Thrive Anywhere, From the Ballroom to the Boardroom," to achieve a “dancing mind” in business or in your personal life is to be in a state where you are focused, aware, alert, confident, creative, connected and coordinated. These elements are necessary to help you better communicate, recognize patterns, attract opportunities, and ultimately make enhanced strategic decisions, all of which lead to transformation.

The “dancing mind” is symbolic for breaking through the old psychological and physical boundaries that limit achievement and represents the process of opening minds to new ideas and enhanced awareness, and invites the focused, intentional mindset of a professional dancer.

So how do we train and teach our minds to dance, and keep them dancing? That’s where partner dancing (yes, partner dancing) comes into play. With dance, you learn to “feel” whatever movements you make and to train your mind to create new habits that help you thrive.

In the workplace, there are six parallel elements that Valeh Nazemoff calls “the 6 C’s of workplace performance” that are necessary to have a productive, positive and result oriented work environment. To achieve the 6 C’s, you must “feel” and be mindful of your decisions, your “movements”, and how they affect you and others around you, your “partners.”

1. Compassion has been scientifically proven to release oxytocin, a “happy” brain chemical, which creates a feeling of trust and social bonds. Trust is what establishes an environment where employees feel engaged.
2. Communication drives performance. Communication helps you get in sync with your business colleagues and establishes targeted objectives and goals.
3. Connection does more than boost productivity. It is found that engagement also reduces turnover and absenteeism. When you are connected to the mission and the people of your organization and feel in rhythm with a shared common purpose, you take ownership and want to see a successful outcome.
4. Cooperation is essential when a group of people, and not just an individual, needs to thrive and carry forward a joint message in a streamlined manner.
5. Collaboration increases productivity and invites a healthy give and take between partners.
6. Coordination is about moving together in a direction.

By immersing yourself in this world, you will benefit in so many ways, challenge your mind and body to learn new things, trust your partner, clients, employees, and peers, overcome stage fright, increase your confidence, become better balanced, embrace being “judged”, lose yourself to the music, diversify your daily routine, and step outside of yourself.

Keywords:

Productivity, performance, workplace, mind, body, dance, results, creativity, transformation, communication, compassion, connection, collaboration, coordination.