Blue Ocean Network PREVIEW | Page 9

and understanding how they worked, whether that be England’s littoral region, the human body, or how organizations function effectively.

Now, Lizzi has combined her professional experience, interest in systems, and her passion of water to teach professionals how they can reach their full potential.

As an executive coach, Lizzi works to get her clients to become much more littoral. Just like the shores she grew up on, where the landscape was fluid and the transaction constant, she helps professionals understand how their bodies and way of thinking need to function in the same manner.

“The environment creates amazing metaphors,” said Lizzi.

Many of Lizzi’s clients come to her with similar issues. They want to make decisions that are wise and not reactive. Nothing impresses them and they fail to be excited about their work. They desire to bring their full selves to the table and want to do more meaningful work.

It’s typical of today’s work culture. It’s not uncommon to come across professionals that feel they can’t be in awe of an idea or project so they suppress their natural instinct, said Lizzi.

And that’s why she takes her clients out of the city to the coast, where they can slow down and gaze in awe of the great Atlantic Ocean.

Using a process called Multiple Brain Integration TechniquemBIT, for short – Lizzi works to align the head, heart and gut (stomach) in the people with which she works. In each of the three areas, there are neurons that carry messages throughout our body, and by aligning the three, we can make more well-informed decisions [PPT link].

According to Lizzi, the brain is where we make meaning and all our thinking gets done. In

business, many people only use their head even though there are two other areas in their body that can help them make smart decisions. Our heart is where our passion comes from and helps us to place value on objects or ideas. In our gut, we fulfill the need for action and

doing. This area of the body helps to keep us grounded.

Just like waves hitting the shore is transactional, so is the push and pull we feel between our head, heart and gut. It is important for all three areas to be aligned because failing to do so shortchanges our decision-making ability. Say, for example, we are working on a project that doesn’t motivate us and our heart just isn’t in it. We push through the project simply using our head and our gut, but we lack passion and fail to connect the project with any broader impact or meaning in our lives. In the long-term, our gut and head can’t maintain the demands we place on them. We are thrown off balance and sheer determination simply won’t cut it forever.

So how do we correct this imbalance? According to Lizzi, it starts with breathing.

When asked a question, many people’s first tendency is to hold their breath, but that only impedes one’s ability to make thoughtful decisions. By breathing, our blood flows and the heart slows. We use our heart, head and gut together, achieving coherence, and we approach problems creatively. As an added benefit, we create new neuron pathways to help us with future decisions.

and understanding how they worked, whether that be England’s littoral region, the human body, or how organizations function effectively.

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