Training the Smaller Muscles

I started pilates sessions today at a wellness clinic called “Back to Wellness.” It’s a charming and effective studio nestled in Valley Village.

Most of the work in the pilates session fixated on the smaller muscle groups. For example, the piriformis, oblique abdominals, psoas and gluteus medius. The underlying but vital smaller muscles that, when firing correctly, can boost overall performance as larger muscle groups don’t have to over-compensate to produce power and speed.

The smaller muscles may not garner the spotlight in the body or in the gym, but without those muscles’ support…your body can’t work to its optimum level.

Hmm. Sounds like the workplace.

In my line of work, sometimes the proverbial “smaller muscles” can be what people sometimes call “soft skills.” Those are typically behavior skills or traits that allow you to not just perform your job function well, but to elevate your entire team and organization. Empathy, humor, class, grace, sensitivity, active listening…these are all small examples of soft skills.

As you can see, that list (and much more) is comprised of traits we’d want any true leader to exhibit. Not just someone who is competent in their job.

Just like we should focus on the smaller muscle groups…we should also focus on the soft skills that unlock our true potential as colleagues and workplace leaders.

Only with soft skills, we can and should train those smaller muscles every day.

Especially on the days when we don’t feel like it.