1. Flow – Leader Resilience
How a leader can support the flow
2. Flow – Leader Resilience
Source: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life
Flow indicators
1. Clarity of goals
2. Complete concentration on the task
3. Sense of control
4. A sense that time is altered
5. Intrinsically rewarding
6. Effortlessness and ease
7. Balance between challenge & skill
8. Loss of self-conscious rumination
Perceived skill level
Challenge
level
low high
low
high
Anxiety
Arousal
Worry
Apathy
Boredom
Control
Relaxation
Flow
3. Flow – Leader Resilience
CONTEXT
• Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi describes that people are happiest when they are in a state of utter concentration and completely
absorbed in the activity they are carrying out. The feeling of “flow” is that same as feeling “in the zone”.
• The balance of perceived challenges and skills are important factors in flow. If a challenge is bigger than your skill level, you
tend to become anxious or stressed. You may become bored if your skill level exceeds the size of the challenge.
• Flow occurs during a big challenge-high skill combination, when all frames of mind come together with no resistance.
• You can work towards achieving flow by formulating clear objectives in relation to the tasks and the activities; having a good
balance between the challenge of the activity and understanding your own skills; good interim feedback during and after
the activity, with timely adjustments if necessary.
HOW TO USE
• With team members:
• Help them to set clear objectives
• Support their work environment to maintain focus and concentration
• Encourage and praise strengths to build self-confidence and skills
• Value and give regular feedback
• Support ongoing development and provide coaching opportunities so skill levels continue to increase
• Create collaborative working environments to build synergy and explore innovation
WATCH OUT!
• Highlighting negative emotions can disempower your team members, as they may not know reason for it. Sharing this
model with your team can help them to self-manage and set goals for their own ‘flow’.
