Moving from the dance floor to the balcony

Another move for pulling up and getting new perspective on your choices

Who can’t relate to the swirl of feelings a dance floor conjures up (for me something of a dread-joy love child)? Turns out it also points out a really helpful leadership and growth move.

Moving back and forth from the dance floor to the balcony.

I learned of it from a coach, and it comes originally from Ronald Heifetz’s work on Adaptive Leadership.

The idea is that neither space is inherently better, the trick is being aware of where you are, where you tend to hang out more, and intentionally moving between the two to get a different view.

🕺 Dance floor -  you’re in it with your fellow shakers, up close, the sound, the lights, the movement, the adrenaline, playing off one another, pulse, sweat, connect.

Balcony - you’re peering down on the action, seeing it from a bigger perspective, the spacing, the patterns of movement, the clusters, the soloists, the net effect.

I find the more common lean for leaders is to the dance floor (if not at a real dance floor where it may well be the opposite). In it, up close, day-to-day, action all around them.

So they derive real benefit from this reminder to pull up, get a different view on what’s happening (with themselves, their team, their customers, etc.) and what their moves can be.

But you can have the opposite too no doubt. An over lean to observing and the big picture, not enough connection and sensing from within the action.

Either way, making moves starts with that great question, asked often. Where am I? Then... what moves do I need to make to get a better perspective and expand my choices?

How about for you... dance floor, balcony?