Description

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Essential skills for today's leaders: learn how to embody your ethics, earn your team's trust, and dismantle toxic work culture

Leaders and managers everywhere are learning the importance of creating safe, satisfying workplaces rooted in principles of social justice. But many of us who try to lead with ethics and integrity struggle with embracing a position of power and authority. You might worry about “being bossy,” unintentionally disrespecting others, or making the wrong call—and in the process, put your mind and body under so much stress that you burn out.

Somatic educator and coach Pavini Moray argues that the secret to being an ethical, inspirational boss is rooted in our own bodies. In more than 30 simple exercises, reflections, and daily practices, you’ll learn how to:

• Nurture trust with clients and coworkers
• Ground and re-center when you’re thrown off by a mistake or problem
• Soothe the “Ouch!” of negative feedback
• Break away from grind and hustle culture
• Turn workplace conflict into a source of positive change and growth
• Help your employees voice their own needs and feel heard
• Understand the nuances of consent beyond contract negotiations
• Gracefully acknowledge mistakes
• Repair relationships with employees, colleagues, and clients

Drawing from client case studies and their own experience as a manager, Moray teaches foundational embodiment practices—breath, grounding, observing, centering, and moving—through concrete examples that show how to use these skills in a variety of common workplace settings. By learning to practice embodied leadership presence, you can become a boss who truly listens to your employees; leads with inspiration; and brings your whole self to work every day.

About the Author

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PAVINI MORAY has started, succeeded, and failed at many businesses. These experiences of success and failure have shaped them into a leader who aims to work in service, meeting students and co-workers where they are. As a serial entrepreneur, they have built private practices, a worker collective, and a for-profit company. Their leadership ability, along with thirty years of experience as a Montessori educator, have honed their skills in creating accessible pathways to learning. Moray is also a somatic coach, specializing in sex and relationships and helping partners find their way to harmony. They have developed pedagogy and methodology for embodied relationships, teaching hundreds of students how to lead and learn through embodiment and engagement. Their identity as a queer, trans, non-binary founder gives them insight into the practices of Outsider Culture and accessibility. Moray holds an M.Ed in Curriculum and Design, as well as a PhD in Somatic Psychology.

Praise For…

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"This book addresses one of the biggest challenges of leadership: how to hold on to your humanity while maintaining empathy for those you lead, all while meeting your bottom line. Written with clarity and warmth, the book shares best practices through powerful examples and transformative easy-to-access exercises."
—Nir Eyal, author of Hooked and Indistractable

"Perfectly timed and necessary reading for today’s leaders."
—Carrie Melissa Jones, community builder, entrepreneur, and community management consultant

"Weaving experiential practice with hard-won insight, Pavini has written a book that will be indispensable for anyone who wants to lead in a powerful, embodied way."
—David Treleaven, PhD, author of Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness

"Chock-full of effective and practical suggestions for how to deal with workplace triggers and conflict, How to Hold Power will help you develop a meaningful leadership practice....this is a must-read book for every leader who wants to hold their power with skills and grace."
—Becky Margiotta, author of Impact with Integrity and cofounder of the Billions Institute

"Pavini can only be described as one who has great courage and has worked hard to accomplish and realize what it means to be embodied in truth and wholeness. Breaking down a system to understand how to realize this is an invaluable offering to the world at a time when it is deeply needed."
—Lucia Horan, 5Rhythms Lineage holder and Executive Somatic Coach

"The book shows how a path of development based on connecting to our sensations and emotions allows us to be better bosses. In addition, it remains practical and grounded and provides leaders a set of practices to be the bosses they aspire to be. A must-read!"
—Pete Hamill, PhD, senior teacher at Strozzi Institute and founder of Uncommon Leaders Ltd

"...a practical and invaluable guide that is accessible, down-to-earth, insightful, and honest.... If you are ready to rethink your relationship to leadership and power, to lead with compassion and empathy, to strengthen your communication and listening skills, and to work on creating and honoring boundaries, read this book, work through its exercises, and be ready to become a boss or leader that inspires others."
—Jennifer Lenhart, owner and lead teacher at Satsang Yoga Studio

"With a balance of personal stories, humor, and notes on somatic leadership, Pavini Moray delivers an easy-to-read book that will benefit a wide range of folks at every level of leadership."
—Meredith Broome, Master Somatic Coach

"How to Hold Power is sure to become an essential resource for any boss who wants to pursue personal growth toward more conscious leadership."
—Michelle Coyle, president of BGSD Strategies

"I wish I’d had this book decades ago! It’s full of wisdom, insight, and practices that will be invaluable not just for managers but for anyone taking leadership in an organization.”
—Starhawk, author, activist, permaculture designer, and teacher

"Dr. Pavini Moray has crafted a mind- and heart-opening journey of discovery for anyone in the world of work and beyond. How to Hold Power belongs alongside all of your best business and management books."
—Steven Hoskinson, founder of Organic Intelligence