Interesting and fresh approach towards leadership. This is my first time hearing about somatic concept!

This book, blending mindfulness with practical strategies, gets straight to the point. Moray emphasizes ethical leadership and creating a workplace that's both just and safe. Forget the hustle—learn to manage stress, prevent burnout, and lead with integrity.

"How to Hold Power" presents a pretty great holistic approach to leadership. After reading infamous business books about managing people one could have thought they know everything there is, and still somehow not all boxes are ticked to become the leader for people to listen to and follow. This book covers the missing boxes and tells you how to tick at least one or all of them.
Long story short - leaders need therapy, but more than just for mind-cleaning purposes, one needs to have somatic therapy to connect their mind and body, because without hearing your body you won't hear anybody. The book covers the embodiment with physical and psychological aspects of it, and leadership on its own as well as the psychological side of management. Pavini Moray offers an explanation of how the connection works, examples of cases they had, and actual practices to do during hardship moments and in the calm of your own home.
Overall - a must-read for managers and leaders, and for people who feel like they lack connection between mind and body. 4 stars, only because some parts may have been made shorter or left out, and from time to time I found it challenging to get through the book although it's only 240 pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley, North Atlantic Books & Pavini Moray for providing me with a copy of How to Hold Power for review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 rounded up - available 10 October 2023.

This book and I went on a bit of a journey. I was getting very triggered by the book recalling my own experiences of failing leadership. In particular, I was taken back to when I had 2 weeks of mental health leave after being bullied by my direct boss in a team meeting and then management ignored me for an entire Monday. It wasn't until I left the office at 10 a.m. on Tuesday that someone noticed that I even existed - and wasn't at my desk 😅.

Most of you would know that I am currently in holiday and let's just say that being triggered on holiday wasn't really what I was after. However, I managed to reach the chapter discussing our triggers and how to explore our physical reactions in these moments. I am so glad that I reached this chapter and continued on through the book.

I felt let I had a plan to not only progress my leadership on my return from holidays but also the toolkit to explore how I can manage my own tensions and grief to move on. Thank you.

The learnings focus on our body first and listening to what our bodies are telling us in different moments. Some of the discussion on physical contractions didn't really connect with me - I haven't experienced this much. But listening to my bohas as been a key component my eating disorder what and this is a wonderful resource for embodying and respecting your body to be a better leader.

This is a fantastic read for anyone in a leadership position, whether new to the role or not.

I really liked how the author explains about the importance of leading in a compassionate way, not the belief that tougher is better.

I will definitely reflect on the learnings from this book throughout my career.

Your leadership is not coming with your title. This could be one of the most powerful and simiest phrases. The book has two parts and two main focuses: physical and mindful. We are all humans and being a leader can cause some issues if you dont take a proper care of your mind and body. There is no right or wrong way, everyone should look for the path that suits self. There are many good learnings in the book and overall can be a good reflection.

"How to Hold Power" by Pavini Moray is a thought-provoking and timely book that provides valuable insights into ethical and inspirational leadership in the workplace. Moray, a somatic educator and coach, takes a unique approach by emphasizing the importance of embodiment practices in becoming a mindful and effective leader.

One of the main strengths of the book is the emphasis on creating safe and satisfying workplaces rooted in principles of social justice. Moray acknowledges the challenges that leaders and managers face in navigating positions of power and authority, and provides practical exercises, reflections, and daily practices that help readers cultivate trust with clients and coworkers. The book also offers guidance on how to ground and re-center when faced with mistakes or problems, and how to handle negative feedback in a way that soothes the emotional impact.

One of the standout features of "How to Hold Power" is the focus on breaking away from grind and hustle culture, which is pervasive in many workplaces. Moray encourages readers to prioritize self-care and well-being, and provides practical tools for managing stress and preventing burnout. The book also highlights the importance of helping employees voice their own needs and feel heard, and provides strategies for resolving workplace conflicts in a constructive and positive manner.

Moray's approach to consent beyond contract negotiations is another highlight of the book. By exploring the nuances of consent in the workplace, readers are encouraged to develop a deeper understanding of the importance of consent in all aspects of leadership, including communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution. Moray's use of client case studies and personal experience as a manager adds a practical and relatable dimension to the book, making it accessible and applicable to readers in a variety of professional settings.

In addition to the practical strategies and exercises, "How to Hold Power" also delves into the mindset and mindset shifts needed for embodied leadership presence. Moray emphasizes the importance of acknowledging mistakes gracefully, repairing relationships with employees, colleagues, and clients, and leading with inspiration by bringing one's whole self to work every day.

One of the few limitations of the book is that some readers may find the focus on embodiment practices and somatic awareness to be new or unfamiliar concepts. However, Moray provides clear explanations and practical exercises that make these concepts accessible and easy to implement.

In conclusion, "How to Hold Power" is a timely and insightful book that offers valuable guidance on ethical and inspirational leadership in the workplace. Moray's emphasis on embodiment practices and somatic awareness provides a fresh and holistic approach to leadership that can help leaders and managers create safe, satisfying, and socially just workplaces. With its practical strategies, real-life examples, and focus on self-care and well-being, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking to lead with ethics, integrity, and mindfulness in today's complex work environments.