Discover the science and power of centering: your inner leadership advantage for clarity, resilience, and decision-making in times of transition.
I lost my first tennis game at 13. Well, to be honest, it was not the first time I’ve lost. But that was the most painful one.
And it became the most inspiring!
Back then, my strategy was simple: hit the ball as hard as possible and hope it terrified the opponent into defeat. Power was the plan. Precision was …just optional.
A few games later, the day I lost this game, I had my first real AHA! moment:
Tennis isn’t about strength. It’s about strategy.
The goal is not to overwhelm the opponent; it’s to place the ball where they aren’t.
When I finally tried it, it worked. I started to win.
But a deeper revelation was waiting. One that would shape not only how I played, but how I later led teams, navigated my career, and guided others through transitions.
It’s a simple principle with extraordinary impact:
Return to Centre.
In tennis, professionals use this to stay balanced and ready. After every hit (whether powerful or light) they move back to the center of the court. Because from the center, options open. Possibilities widen. Decisions become clear.
Stay stuck in the corner, and you’re limited.
Return to center, and you regain control.
This is more that just a sports tactic. It’s a leadership advantage.
Why It Works So Deeply
In ontological coaching, we call this practice centering: the ability to return to physical, emotional, and mental balance.
Modern neuroscience and physiology back this up:
1. Centering reduces stress response
Deep, conscious breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing cortisol levels and improving clarity (Harvard Medical School, 2020).
2. Centering improves emotional regulation
Research from Stanford shows that pausing before responding increases activity in the prefrontal cortex, the region responsible for decision-making and impulse control.
3. Centering enhances cognitive performance
A study in Frontiers in Psychology demonstrated that athletes and leaders who practice centering experience better reaction times and improved situational awareness.
This is not magic, it’s biology meeting mastery.
And here’s the beautiful part:
Centering is accessible to everyone: engineer, scientist, leader, introvert, extrovert.
Where Is “The Center,” Really?
Depending on the lens, the center appears differently:
- Somatic perspective: in your belly, the physical anchor of balance.
- Mental perspective: in silence, the pause between stimulus and action.
- Emotional perspective: in your breath, the regulator of intensity and clarity.
However, and personally speaking, centering isn’t a place but a practice.
Centering in Real Life
Imagine applying this on the court of your everyday life:
- Before replying to a tense email
- Before walking into a high-stakes meeting
- Before presenting complex ideas to decision-makers
- Before navigating team conflict
- Before facing unexpected change
Instead of reacting, you return to center.
As Dumbledore wisely said:
“It is not our abilities that show what we truly are… it is our choices.”
Transitions (specially meaningful ones) shake our internal center.
They destabilize identity. They challenge our emotional foundations. Studies in transition psychology show that identity shifts are the core driver of emotional turbulence during change.
But here’s the key:
Returning to center is a choice.
One that you can make again and again.
A mentor once told me:
“Be intentional about what you practice.” And it stuck. Because what you practice becomes habit.
And your habits shape your leadership style.
A Simple Centering Exercise You Can Start Today
Right now, try this:
- Take three deep breaths.
- In silence.
- Feel your belly move.
- Let your shoulders drop.
- Return, fully, to yourself.
This is the leadership reset button.
The quiet revolution.
The habit that separates reactive managers from centered leaders.
I challenge you to try it. 😉
3 Takeaways before closing
- Centering increases clarity, reduces stress, and improves leadership decision-making.
- Transitions shake identity. Centering restores balance and control.
- Small habits practiced with intention create long-term leadership excellence.
“Leadership begins not in action, but in the quiet moment where we choose who we want to be.”
If you’re ready to lead from clarity rather than chaos,
if you want to strengthen your emotional stability, decision-making, and executive presence…
then it’s time to elevate your leadership.
👉 Join Peak Resilience Leadership Training.
A transformative program designed for engineers, leaders, and scientists who want to lead with balance, power, and intention.
Your next level starts at your center.
Contact us at infopr@peakresilienceinstitute.com or book a Discovery session now.
