In my previous blog, I wandered into the wild—literally and metaphorically. I was looking at how the natural world interconnects and makes decisions: how birds pick up on tiny shifts in the wind, how plants ans shrubs “know” when to bloom but also when to become unattractive for animals. It begged the fundamental question: in our rational life, have we numbed one of our greatest superpowers? Have we forgotten how to sense?
The more I sat with it, the more obvious it became: this isn’t just a nice-to-have. Sensory intelligence—the ability to feel into situations, to notice what’s unsaid, to pick up on the subtle—is actually the bedrock of truly values-driven leadership.
Beyond good intentions: Leading with your whole self
We talk a lot about value-based leadership these days—making decisions that reflect our ethics, long-term thinking, doing right by people and planet. But here’s the thing: having values on paper is one thing. Actually living them, feeling them, and bringing them to life in messy, unpredictable environments? That takes something more.
That’s where sensory leadership comes in.
To me, sensory leadership is about leading from the gut, the skin, the breath and not just the brain. It’s about tuning into the invisible stuff: vibes, tensions, body language, energy in a room. It’s less “best practices,” more “deep presence.” And when paired with strong values, it becomes a kind of superpower.
Without it, value-based leadership can start to sound like a corporate mission statement: noble, sure, but maybe a little abstract. A bit floaty. Add sensory intelligence to the mix, and suddenly those values grow legs. They move. They land.
Allow me to bring it to life with three ways this works in practice:
1. Feeling your decisions in real time
You might decide to roll out a new sustainability initiative because, well, it’s the right thing to do. But are you paying attention to how it’s actually landing? Are people inspired? Confused? Quietly freaking out? Sensory leaders don’t just launch things—they notice the ripple effects. They feel into what’s working, where there’s friction, and where a tweak might make all the difference.
They sense the vibe in the hallway, not just the survey results. This was at the core of our recent workshop ‘Building a Movement’.
2. Reading the room—and the system
Data is useful, but it only tells part of the story. The rest? You have to feel it.
The world’s a bowl of spaghetti full of interconnected systems. Economic pressure here sparks social unrest there. Your team’s burnout might be rooted in a global supply chain issue or a shift in leadership energy. Sensory leaders develop an eagle-like kind of wide-angle awareness. They notice patterns before they harden. They catch the offhand comment that reveals a deeper truth.
Have you had that experience – that you could feel the storm coming before the clouds roll in?
3. Creating real connection—not just strategy
For those companies who are still committed to DEI, it’s one thing to say, “We value inclusion.” It’s another to walk into a meeting and feel that someone doesn’t feel safe speaking up.
Sensory leaders don’t just implement frameworks—they notice who’s quiet, who’s shrinking, who’s holding back. Often, when I invite the more introvert participants in a meeting to share their perspective, it really enriched the dialogue and help us get to better decisions and actions. Not surprising really, they are of course the better listeners.
These leaders have the courage to lean into awkward silences and ask the real questions. They build trust through an embodied presence. Sometimes, the most powerful thing a leader can do is sit in the discomfort and stay curious.
So why does this matter now?
Because today’s world also resembles this spaghetti bowl full of poly-crises. It is literally on fire. Climate change, inequality, social unrest, economic instability, you know the list. We’re navigating them with tools that were built for simpler times. Spreadsheets alone won’t save us. The days of strategy as a straight line to a fixed goal are over—now it’s about sensing, adapting, and aiming within a range of plausible futures.
What we need are leaders who can feel their way through complexity. Who can hold their values and adapt in real time. Who can sense what’s emerging and respond not with fear or rigidity, but with wisdom.
Wakey, wakey!
If you’re thinking, “This all sounds great, but how do I actually do it?” Definitely not through a bookcase full of management books. Here are a few ways I’ve found helpful:
- Deep listening: not just to the choice of words but to the tone of voice, read the energy, to what’s not being said. You’ll be amazed at what you pick up. And don’t forget the cultural differences!
- Get outside: I learned in Botswana that nature sharpens the senses. Go where there’s wind and birds and rustling things. Watch how life moves without needing a to-do list. We need to do this frequently and for a decent period of time.
- Trust your gut: That feeling in your belly when something’s off? That’s wisdom! Don’t ignore it.
- Make space: sensory awareness needs stillness. Even a few minutes of quiet each day can shift how you lead – how is your Mindfulness practice coming along?
- Balance your energies: sometimes what’s needed isn’t more structure, but more softness. More openness. Yes, even in boardrooms.
Remembering the leadership we lost touch with
And that is my main conclusion; we already have all of this in us – we just forgot (how) to use it. And if you don’t use it, you lose it.
At its best, value-based leadership gives us the why. Sensory leadership gives us the how. Together, they help us lead not just with our heads, but with our whole selves, fully embodied. This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being alive to what’s really going on and choosing to lead from that place.
Let’s remember that leadership isn’t just a skillset—it’s a full-body experience. And maybe, just maybe, that’s how we start building organisations and a society that serve all living beings better, that are more like beautifully interconnected living, breathing ecosystems.
Do you also sense the many benefits from becoming a bit wild?
We can offer you support with both the inner and the outer work through the HeartWork Inner Knowing Journey, the Purpose Driven Impact Journey and deep experience with complex business transformations.
Please let us know what you think, we would love to hear from you via sendlove at heartwork dot earth.