The Heartbeat of Those Around You

The title of this blog may seem a little odd. Pause and take a moment to think about it. The heartbeat of those around you. Take a moment to hear your heartbeat. To feel your heartbeat.

Now, can you sense the heartbeat of someone next to you? I believe you can. 

Heartbeats matter.

Last month my wife and I took a few days away in northern Michigan to unplug. On one of our day trips, we went to one of our favorite villages (Leland) and stumbled across Leelanau Books. A wonderful spot with a huge selection of handpicked books and lots of comfortable nooks to start reading.

The title of Peter Wohlleben’s latest book The Heartbeat of Trees, caught my eye. Within a few pages I was hooked and wanted to keep reading. The Heartbeat of Trees explores the connection between humans and nature, and how we can protect the natural world. The book draws on scientific research to show that humans are deeply connected to the forest, and that we can benefit from spending time in nature.

I’ve always known the relaxing power of a walk in the woods. I experience that power on a regular basis and hope you do as well. But until now I never really understood the science behind it and how trees and forests play such an important role in our lives, communities, and our world.

While different than a human heartbeat…trees do have a heartbeat that impacts them and the trees, animals, and ecosystems around them. 

So why is a human and organizational development Process Consultant writing a blog about the heartbeat of trees? Well, because we humans have heartbeats too and those heartbeats impact ourselves and those around us. Just like the heartbeat of a tree influences those humans and other living organisms around them.

I was working recently with a 20-member leadership team (all of whom have heartbeats) and Peter’s writing came to mind. During our time together we were talking about listening, in particular how to listen to others. As humans we primarily listen with our ears. Did you know that you can listen with your hands, feet, bodies, eyes, and brains? We don’t often think about all of these ways to listen, but they exist.

Can you listen for the heartbeat of those around you?

I believe you can. In fact, I believe it is essential that you do. A heartbeat tells us so much about another person. Are they relaxed, stressed, or anxious? Have they just been disempowered, taken for granted, or made invisible? Are they motivated, encouraged, or being uplifted in this present moment?

These are really important things to know, be aware of, and to listen for. 

A heartbeat reflects these components of being human. Knowing the heartbeat of the person next to your matters. How are you impacting the heartbeat of the person next to you?

Mind how you go,

Lon

Lon L. Swartzentruber

Design Group International

Managing Partner & CEO 

Interim - CEO, Society for Process Consulting

If you’d like to go deeper in your journey of leadership, please schedule a call. I’d be honored to listen and learn more about your journey as a leader and where you’d like to go next.

P.S. Please join me as the Society for Process Consulting's Inaugural Conference in Philadelphia, PA, 11 - 12 November 2024.

Here is what is in my backpack:

What It Means To Be Human, by Lena Rachel Andersen.

Rereading Humble Leadership 2^nd Edition, by Edgar H. Schein and Peter A. Schein

Presence, by Peter Senge, Otto Scharmer, Joseph Jaworski, and Betty Sue Flowers