This document discusses the concept of "flow state", which is a state of complete focus and immersion in an activity where time seems to slip away. It provides examples of people experiencing flow state in various activities like surfing, skiing, solving a math problem, and musical performance. It explains that flow state is linked to peak performance and happiness. Certain conditions need to be present to experience flow, such as clear goals, immediate feedback, and a balance between challenge and skills. The document also outlines the neurological and chemical changes associated with flow state and provides exercises people can do to increase their chances of experiencing it.

1. for Peak Performance
Success Coach
& Author

3. 1. What is the Flow State?
2. Why does it matter?
3. How do we get there?

4.  Countless issues
arise in the
classroom and
corporate world
due to a lack of
meaningful
engagement with
the tasks at hand.
Unhappy people
Disruptive behaviour
High staff turnover
Lack of focus
Low performance levels
Unfulfilled potential
Slowness to learn
Lack of team cohesion
Lack of motivation

5. Would it help if
you got out a
bit more?

6. 1. Suits up, waxes up
2. Assesses the scene + plans
route
3. Paddles out, reassesses
4. Positions in the oncoming wave
5. Paddles hard + leaps onto board
6. Wham! He rides the wave –
continually adjusting to
maximise each moment, to
risk, to push the limits – the
skill, the pain the thrill…

7. 1. Checks weather
2. Suits up and checks gear
3. Gets into position + pushes off
4. Goes with it – continually
adjusting to maximise each
moment, to risk, to push the
limits – the skill, the thrill…
5. Shouts, yahoos
6. Aches, collapses
7. Drinks gluhwein and tells tall
stories

8. 1. Has a maths problem in her head
2. Clears her desk, grabs a big pad/pen
3. Starts scribbling equations
4. Wrestles with the numbers
5. Hits a wall and growls
6. Goes back to basics. Another angle…
7. YES! Something clicks – adds a
factor, new scribbles, new
equations – another unique angle
simplifies it all. SOLVES IT !
8. Smiles/screams/feels amazing

9. 1. A concert is scheduled
2. Preparation (months, weeks, days,
minutes before) mentally, instrumentally
and physically
3. Sound and stage set up
4. Curtain up
5. Lost in a dazzling performance that
encompasses instrument and
instrumentalist; orchestra and audience,
sounds, lights and environment
6. Falls back to earth and wrestles with
reality …until the next concert

10. Why do you do it?
“To those that jump, no
explanation is necessary.
To those that don't jump,
no explanation is possible.”

11. "Flow provides a sense of discovery, a
creative feeling of transporting a
person into a new reality.
It pushes a person to higher levels of
performance, and leads to previously
undreamed of states of consciousness.
In this growth of self lies the key to
flow activities."
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Csikszentmihalyi's flow model

12. Flow comes from autotelic
activities
‘an end in itself’
The reward is the activity
 Thrilling and energising
 Empowering and enriching
 Revitalising - makes you feel alive
 Elevating - sense of achievement
 Liberating - sense of freedom
 Fun …even addictive

13. You cannot force flow but you can make it much
more likely by ensuring these ingredients are
present:
1. Define a clear and compelling goal
2. Concentrate fully on the task at hand –
removing all potential distractions
3. Ensure your level of skill matches the
challenge
4. Ensure you have an immediate feedback
mechanism
5. Courageously step out (take the risk)

15. Find the can

17. From
Casual awareness
To
Focused attention

18. Shoot the can From
Casual awareness
To
Focused attention
To
Specific intention

19. For Lucy Hare, flow is the
“fantastic point of being
completely with the
orchestra, with the other
people, but also completely
one with my instrument and
my technique and the room.”
Double bass player, BBC Symphony Orchestra,
London Philharmonic Orchestra, now a coach.

21. High achievers
describe four specific
qualities as being
present when
performing at their
very best, that is,
in Flow State

22.  The boundary between the
individual performer and the
performance; the entity and
the environment becomes
significantly blurred
 Sense of individuality vanishes
 Awareness of the whole
dominates
 This is not altruism as such – there is
no necessary sense of ‘service’
involved
ElementsofFlow

23. Time is measured by change.
So, when
NOTHING CHANGES
or
change comes
IMMEASURABLY FAST
that our concept of time
distorts – even vanishes.
ElementsofFlow

24.  Danger distorts our sense of time
 The proximity of danger narrows our
focus to a single point
 Time = Distance / Speed
 Play with this…
 Put a scorpion into your hand or a red
hot wire close to your face
 Contemplate the span of a galaxy or any
astronomical elements (Eta Carinae)
ElementsofFlow

25.  After striking the perfect balance
between challenge and capability
something powerful kicks-in
 Performers experience an unusual
and unexpected ‘hyper-drive’
 They’re actually tapping into
unconscious response mechanisms
 Sense that anything is possible
ElementsofFlow

26.  In flow the performer encounters a
deluge of ‘data’ – overwhelming the
senses
 Unconscious processing has to take
over to receive, filter and sort this
waterfall of information
 And automatically make decisions
rapidly enough (to stay alive)
 Feeling of total abundance - no
awareness of lack
ElementsofFlow

27. What is your path to Flow?
It’s inseparable from your Character

28. Warrior
Sovereign Sage
Mystic
Lover
Jester
Each Character has their own Path to Flow
What is your dominant Character?

29. Sovereign
Commanding
Responsible
Just & fair
Establishes
boundaries
Loves order,
peace, prosperity
Mystic
Transcends and
transforms life.
Has faith: brings
hope. Creative &
charismatic.
Delights in
mystery
Intuitive and
prescient.
Jester
Entertains
Brings joy
humour,
laughter &
colour. Makes
light of things -
finds the funny
side.
Lover
Values people &
relationships.
Empathetic.
Seeks harmony.
Playful,
Spontaneous
Expressive.
Warrior
Mission focused
Enforces
boundaries,
finishes the job.
Direct, determined
& disciplined.
Loyal &
dependable.
Sage
Wise, learned,
discerning
perceptive
Rational,
logical and
reasonable

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31. for Optimum Performance

32. An individual’s level of performance,
learning ability and their generally level
of happiness are all enormously
enhanced when they achieve what is
known as
‘Flow State’.

33. “My thoughts and actions are
indistinguishable – it’s like they
are one and the same.”
“I’m totally immersed.
I’m riding at the
peak of my
capabilities.”.
“Whoooaa.
Far out.
Yeah, totally.”

35. “The number one management metric you
need to know?
FLOW STATE PERCENTAGE.
Interruptions that move us out of Flow State
increase R&D cycle times and costs
dramatically.”
Forbes

36. “When we ask executives how much more productive
they were at their peak performance [flow state]
than they were on average… the most common at
senior levels is an increase of five time.”
The McKinsey Quarterly

38. Normal . Struggle . Release . Flow . Deep Flow . Return . Recovery
Phase
of Flow
Normal . Struggle . Release . Flow . Deep Flow . Return . Recovery

39. Stressed
brain
Relaxed & Aware
Euphoric &
Dreamy
Normal
thinking
Creative
connections
Reawakening
Deep Sleep
Normal . Struggle . Release . Flow . Deep Flow . Return . Recovery
There’s a potential
time delay before the
full recovery phase
occurs.
Phase
of Flow

40. Beta High Beta Alpha Alpha/Theta + Gamma Spikes Delta
& EpsilonTransient Hypoprefrontality
Stressed
brain
Relaxed & Aware
Euphoric &
Dreamy
Normal
thinking
Creative
connections
Reawakening
Deep Sleep
Dominant
Brainwaves
Normal . Struggle . Release . Flow . Deep Flow . Return . Recovery
Phase
of Flow

41. Beta High Beta Alpha Alpha/Theta + Gamma Spikes Delta
& Epsilon
Dominant
Brainwaves
Normal . Struggle . Release . Flow . Deep Flow . Return . Recovery
Epinephrine
(Adrenaline)
Nitric
Oxide
Serotonin
& Oxytocin
Dopamine…………………………………….
Endorphins……………………………….
Norepinephrine
(Noradreneline)
Cortisol
Anandamide……..
Neuro-
chemistry
Transient Hypoprefrontality
Phase
of Flow

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Google: Pad Flow State

43. You cannot force flow but you can make it much
more likely by ensuring these ingredients are
present:
1. Define a clear and compelling goal
2. Concentrate fully on the task at hand –
removing all potential distractions
3. Ensure your level of skill matches the
challenge
4. Ensure you have an immediate feedback
mechanism
5. Courageously step out (take the risk)

44. “Flow occurs when you’ve
simply managed
to get out of your
own way.”
Floyd Woodrow.
CEO Chrysalis Worldwide

45.  Simple exercises with ONE tennis ball:
1. One-Handed Catch
 Watching / not watching
2. One Over
 Watching / not watching/closed
eyes
3. Bounce
 One handed – regular rhythm
 Alternate hands
TEAM FLOW
This exercise can be carried out
with a group up to about 12 people
to help develop group flow.
30 secs – 3 mins – 20 mins

46.  Simple exercises with TWO tennis balls:
1. One Over/One Under
 Watching / not watching/closed
eyes
 Sync breathing
2. One Over - Walking
 Watching / not watching/closed
eyes
 Walking backwards
TEAM FLOW
This exercise can be carried out
with a group up to about 12 people
to help develop group flow.
30 secs – 3 mins – 20 mins

47. The enemies of flow are all around us:
 A lack of purpose and specific goals
 A lack of challenge
 A lack of focus and direction (too many
distractions and interruptions)
 A lack of actual ability – which leads to fear
and stress
 Disempowering judgements /lack of self
belief
 A lack of general flow across multiple areas
of your life

48.  Simple steps to get into an Alpha State
 Remove all distractions
 Sit comfortably
 Quiet your thinking
 Breathe easily, slowly, completely,
regularly
 Activate a little gratitude & appreciation
 Smile – just a little
 Focus on one thing that is simply,
wonderful
30 secs – 3 mins – 20 mins

49. I am what I am
I have what I have
I can do what I can do
Pad

50. Warrior
Sovereign Sage
Mystic
Lover
Jester
What is your Path to Flow?

51. Social Creative
Physical Mystical
Adapted from Jamie Wheal et al – Flow Genome Project
Connection
SerenityAction
Insight
Achieved by
challenging my
body to its fullest
Achieved by
making and sharing
experiences with
friends
Achieved by
engaging the mind to
create / solve
problems
Achieved by
stillness, accessing
deeper realms of
thought / faith

52. Social Creative
Physical Mystical
Adapted from Jamie Wheal et al – Flow Genome Project
Connection
SerenityExcitement
Expressive
Analytic
Insight
Intellectual

53. Social Creative
Physical Mystical
Adapted from Jamie Wheal et al – Flow Genome Project
Connection
SerenityExcitement
Expressive
Analytic
Insight
Intellectual
?
In a team, isn’t there
a need to lead all
these segments?
Doesn’t that leader
also have their own
path to Flow?

54. Social Creative
Physical Mystical
Adapted from Jamie Wheal et al – Flow Genome Project
Connection
SerenityExcitement
Expressive
Analytic
Insight
Intellectual
Governmental

55. Sovereign
Commanding
Responsible
Just & fair
Establishes
boundaries
Loves order,
peace, prosperity
Mystic
Transcends and
transforms life.
Has faith: brings
hope. Creative &
charismatic.
Delights in
mystery
Intuitive and
prescient.
Mystical
Jester
Entertains
Brings joy
humour,
laughter &
colour. Makes
light of things -
finds the funny
side.
Creative
Lover
Values people &
relationships.
Empathetic.
Seeks harmony.
Playful,
Spontaneous
Expressive.
Social
Warrior
Mission focused
Enforces
boundaries,
finishes the job.
Direct, determined
& disciplined.
Loyal &
dependable.
PhysicalGovernmental
Sage
Wise, learned,
discerning
perceptive
Rational,
logical and
reasonable
Intellectual
LEFT BRAIN RIGHT BRAIN

56. Your Questions

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Clear, simple teaching to help you
discover the extraordinary resources
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breaking audio experiences with
music by Los Angeles Philharmonic
www.teamme.com