cthewind's Blog

When my father encountered someone such that they both found each other in the way, he always said, “Shall we dance?”

Dance is often used as a metaphor for relationships, and it can do a lot of work for us, helping us understand learning steps, taking cues from your partner, tuning into rhythm, knowing when to keep the routine and when to bust out the show-stopping moves.

In working with students or on faculty-staff teams, I often think of a circle of dance. Each person learns the steps, each person must take cues from persons on either side, and each person is capable of moving to the center to be featured.

Thinking of leadership according to dance moves keeps us limber and attuned.

1) Step In: This move takes focus and strength to coordinate movement without hurting each other.

An individual can step in to accompany another, to offer support, or to relieve an exhausted dancer.

A community can step in toward a shared center, increasing attention and intention, and making connections more robust

2) Step Back: This move trusts the center to hold with a little more breathing room and is capable of a change of speed.

An individual can step back, to do less without leaving, to have room for personal development of moves, or to be on call.

A community can step back together to make room, to see new patterns, to change direction, to innovate, to speed up or slow down.

3) Step Up: This move intensifies the effort.

An individual can step up, being willing to take risks in being featured, to be exposed in leading, to increase commitment and discipline to bring an A game.

A community can step up, showing up with all hands on deck, ready for full court press.

4) Step Away: This move leaves the dance.  

An individual can step away termporarily, taking time to rest and trusting the dance to continue, or permanently, leaving the dancefloor.

A community can step away, sunsetting particular steps or rhythms or dissolving the circle.

How might your rhythms of leading and life be altered by sharing?