The first time I recall encountering the notion of Flow in a context slightly different then from a river was wen watching a Jet Li movie: Tai Chi Master (1993).
It was in a period I was reading quite many books related to Asia and Chinese/Japanese culture through several adventure books which were not Manga.
And as many things you get when you are a youngling, it sinks in your unconscious mind till the moment you remember it on the most unusual circumstances…
In 2010 while participating in a Zero Generation project, Trainers Path, Pelle Berting and Bas Gadiot were running a session about how to “Professionalise your training”. And among the numerous models we were presented, shared and practiced, one stood out for me: the concept of Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
To make long research outcomes short, he is working in the study of happiness and creativity.
One of his breakthroughs is that people are happiest when they are in a state of FLOW, a state of high level of concentration, detachment, mastery and enjoyment while performing a challenging task on a field one is highly skilled at.
Like in many models, the borders are not strict though we can all somehow related to the various states. Sometimes, too much control or not enough give an after taste of not enough or not sustainable and even if FLOW comes into moments, one can always remember them and strive to learn how to regain that mix of feelings.
Next to the illustration displaying the different states according to skill and challenge levels, Let me share with you a more entertaining media displaying how it is to witness, to be, to share while in the state of Flow….
This abstract is taken at the end of a concert during which these amazing musicians just rocket launched themselves and their audience towards the stars. They are highly skilled regarding their individual instruments, their collective work and can do things we can only envy or enjoy as mere observer, or dedicate our lives to strive to reach. In parallel to their abilities as an orchestra, the composer of the song made a challenging melody which allows his musicians to do their best AND to enjoy the moment. It looks like they were a band having a “buff” (music improvisation at the end of their rehearsal), a magic moment that happens once in a while.
There are times I feel that all my preparations, experience and knowledge acquisition is leading me to a state where everything seems to fall into place. In the training room, none has the impression of being pulled or pushed; being the participants or myself.
I also witnessed, as participant or observer, some of my colleagues and friends reach such state during which their face and whole being seems to gloom from an internal light.
The FLOW model also enlightened me on why I keep on challenging myself when preparing “known” sessions and on scouting for new topics and skills to internalise, practice and deliver in sessions. Some of the outcomes of these took several years of refinement and much great collaboration.
I am still reading the book Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi wrote about this topic to understand the phenomenon better though it strengthen my observations and findings. Reading regularly books, articles, observing how other trainers in many fields work, while finding opportunities for experimenting and practising my own creativity and skills really helps me to develop as a person and as a trainer.
Next challenge, to pass this knowledge on…