Yoga, Self-Authorship and Effective Leaders

Why “Expert” Leadership Isn’t Enough at Senior Level, And What To Do About It

Many senior leaders are promoted for their expertise. Yet, the higher you go, the less the “expert” approach serves you—or your organisation. Senior roles demand something different: the ability to lead from your own values and purpose, not just technical know-how or inherited “shoulds”. This is what psychologists call self-authorship.

The Reality: Most Leaders Are Still Experts

Despite seniority, most leaders remain at the expert stage. This means they:

• Rely on technical knowledge and past solutions

• Seek external validation and follow established routines

• Struggle to delegate, collaborate, or adapt to ambiguity

• Default to “shoulds” and inherited rules, rather than acting from personal conviction

This can result in bottlenecks, disengaged teams, and a lack of innovation. The truth is, the challenges at senior level can’t be solved by expertise alone. They require leaders who can think for themselves, hold multiple perspectives, and act from inner clarity.

Why Self-Authorship Matters

Self-authored leaders:

• Make decisions rooted in their own values and vision

• Are comfortable navigating uncertainty and complexity

• Encourage open dialogue and diverse thinking

• Inspire trust through authenticity and consistency

This isn’t just a “nice to have”, it’s essential for effective leadership at the top.

How To Move Towards Self-Authorship: Practical Steps Inspired by the Eight Limbs of Yoga

The eight limbs of yoga offer a practical, time-tested framework for this shift. Here’s how each limb supports the move from expert to self-authored leadership, with specific actions you can try:

1. Yama (Ethical Disciplines)

• Why it matters: Encourages you to question inherited rules and clarify your own ethical stance.

• Try this: At the start of the week, identify one “should” you’re following out of habit. Ask yourself: “Does this align with my own values, or is it just what’s expected?”

2. Niyama (Personal Observances)

• Why it matters: Promotes self-discipline and reflection, helping you set your own standards.

• Try this: Keep a daily note of when you felt most true to yourself—and when you didn’t. What patterns do you notice?

3. Asana (Physical Postures)

• Why it matters: Builds embodied self-awareness, helping you notice when you’re acting out of alignment.

• Try this: When you feel tension or stress, pause and check in with your body. Is your posture defensive, closed, or hurried? Adjust, and notice how it affects your mindset.

4. Pranayama (Breath Control)

• Why it matters: Teaches you to pause and respond intentionally, rather than react on autopilot.

• Try this: Before a big decision or difficult conversation, take three slow, deliberate breaths. Use this space to check: “Am I about to act from habit, or from what I truly believe?”

5. Pratyahara (Withdrawal of the Senses)

• Why it matters: Helps you tune out external noise and listen to your own judgement.

• Try this: Schedule five minutes each day without screens or interruptions. Ask yourself: “What do I actually think or feel about this issue?”

6. Dharana (Concentration)

• Why it matters: Supports focus on your chosen priorities, not just what’s urgent or expected.

• Try this: Pick one value or principle to guide your decisions today. When distractions arise, gently bring your attention back to it.

7. Dhyana (Meditation)

• Why it matters: Deepens self-reflection, helping you integrate your values and actions.

• Try this: Spend a few minutes at the end of the day reflecting: “Where did I act from my own conviction? Where did I default to ‘should’?”

8. Samadhi (Integration/Unity)

• Why it matters: Represents the experience of alignment—when your actions, values, and presence are in sync.

• Try this: Notice moments when you feel “in flow” or at ease with your decisions. These are signs you’re leading from self-authorship.

Helping Others Make the Shift

• Ask open questions in meetings: “What’s most important to you here?” or “Is there another way we could approach this?”

• Support your team in reflecting on their own values and encourage them to bring their authentic selves to work.

• Share your own journey—successes and struggles alike—to normalise the process of moving beyond the expert mindset.

Final Thought

Most senior leaders are not yet self-authored, and that’s normal. But expertise alone won’t solve the challenges at the top. By consciously working through these practices, you can move beyond inherited “shoulds” and lead from a place of clarity, authenticity, and real effectiveness.

The shift is possible, and every step counts.

What’s one “should” you could examine this week—and what might change if you led from your own values instead?