Sensing the Field: What Are You Noticing?

If you’ve been following my newsletters, you might have noticed that I skipped sending one out on Friday. It was ready to go, but something didn’t feel right.

In leadership, we often talk about the field. Loosely defined, the field is the intangible dynamic or energy that exists within a room, an organization, or even society at large. Great leaders, communicators, and performers are attuned to the field. They sense it, and they influence it.

Think about a musician performing live. They’re energized by their fans in that room, who in turn feed off that energy, creating a dynamic, ever-shifting experience. That’s the field in action: a constant flow of influence and response.

What’s in the Field Right Now?

I’ve been sensing a lot of malaise in the collective field. Of course, the field isn’t a single, universal experience—it’s layered and nuanced. But it's interesting and important to try to name it.

And you personally might feel something very different from the broader energy around you. Imagine being at a live concert. The crowd is electric, fully connected to the performance, but maybe you’re not feeling it. Perhaps you’re sick or distracted. In that moment, your personal field doesn’t match the collective energy.

Right now, the broader field feels heavy, uncertain. Fires are raging in LA, creating unimaginable devastation. In the US, a shift in government is stirring anxiety and unpredictability. In Canada, an election looms. As we step into 2025, the air is thick with change and unease.

Change can often be exhilarating, but this doesn’t feel that way to me; it feels unsettled, sparking a sense of doubt or stagnation.

What Are You Sensing?

Take a moment to pause and reflect. What are you noticing in the field? What are you noticing in your own experience? How does it align—or clash—with the collective energy?

Being a good leader means developing the ability to sense, respond to, and sometimes influence or shift the dynamics in your environment. It’s also about noticing your own experience and how that might reflect the field—or be different from it.

As we navigate this uncertain time, I invite you to tune into what’s happening around you. What do you feel? How might you influence it?

Let me know your thoughts—I’d love to hear how the field is showing up for you. And, as always, if you're struggling or just want to talk, I'm available.