Brownian Motion Of Leadership

Regular readers of my blog (and anyone who listens to the podcast I co-host with Ralph Simone) know that I am an armchair science nerd. Like most things in my life, I get a little obsessed for a while, learn a whole lot, and then lose interest. The only interest immune to this tendency is relationship-building, which I never get tired of. Well, that and simple carbs. But nonetheless, I’ve accumulated a repository of fascinating science facts that I pull out from time to time.

For instance: did you know that it’s impossible to be physically still? My mother certainly did. When I was a kid, her most common rejoinder was “Would you please sit still for a moment?” Perhaps I’m sharing this to validate my ADHD as normal. Even as an adult I’m still “antsy” and feel a constant need to move. But in this blog I’m talking about a different type of motion, one that occurs on the subatomic level.

I find it utterly mind-blowing that everything in the universe is in constant motion. All motion is not equal, and all motion is relative to other motion, but the fact remains: nothing is still, ever. Even objects that may seem relatively still, like the book on your bookcase or the cup of coffee on your desk, are never truly at rest. (The coffee is moving MUCH more than the book, by the way).

One source of this constant agitation is a phenomenon called Brownian Motion, which refers to the random movement displayed by small particles that are suspended in liquids or gases. These particles stay in motion due to the seemingly random collisions they endure with one another. Every now and again, I feel like I am experiencing this kind of motion… as if I am a single small particle getting bounced around a lot (see prior reference to my ADHD).

But why am I sharing this “science stuff” in a leadership-focused blog?

I recently read a line in a novel that said “purpose with focus begets meaningful results.” At Emergent, we call that being intentional to be impactful. Effective leaders move with purpose. They know how to “slow down to go faster,” to quote my colleague Ralph. In other words, they are able to give shape and direction to the constant, random flow of energy happening all around them.

How does your leadership influence how you and others move? This, in my opinion, is an essential question for every leader. If the prerogative of leadership is influencing purposeful action, you must learn how to choreograph the movement of yourself and those around you. The energy is already there–it just needs the right guidance.

Are your teams moving in purposeful ways? Is the direction of the movement aligned to goals, objectives, and mission, or do you experience randomness and disarray? Are you creating opportunities for others to “bounce off of you” in collaborative and effective ways?

I like to think of myself as one among many particles in space and time. The space we occupy is like the fluid in which the Brownian particles interact. This fluid has a viscosity–it may be thin or thick, either aiding or hindering easy movement. Me and all the other particles are zipping around, spinning our wheels, occasionally colliding–moving and expending energy without ceasing.

But unlike those simple particles, you and I have agency and choice in how we direct our energy. We can channel the constant flow to bring us closer to our intentions. We can orchestrate random movement into a symphony of intentional effort.

When I’m not as effective as I’d like to be, I think about my movement and my placement. I encourage you to do the same whenever you feel the need to up your effectiveness. Don’t forget: we move whether we want to or not. It’s up to us to move in ways that serve ourselves, our friends, and our organizations!

If you’d like to learn new ways of moving, thinking, and being, give me a call, throw me an email at [email protected], or respond in the comments below!