Head, Heart, and Hands

A simple framework I use with teams (with or without the Leadership Circle) is the concept of Head, Heart, and Hands.

The assertion is that teams who can dynamically balance all three energies are better able to meet challenges, innovate, and create positive, sustainable movement.

Simply put, HEAD represents the team's ability to use logic, analysis, knowledge, and wisdom to address challenges. In the Leadership Circle, this includes Authenticity, Systems Awareness, and Self-Awareness

HEART reflects the team's ability to leverage relationship, compassion, empathy, and interpersonal skills (Relating in the Leadership Circle)

Hands is the team's ability to take decisive action, create forward movement and execute a plan (Achieving in the Leadership Circle)


I typically set this up as a constellation where I position three flip charts in the room in a triangle, each with one of the words (Head, Heart, Hands) written on it.

Once I have the flipcharts set up, I'll ask the team to physically get up and move to a position in relation to the three words that best reflect:

1️⃣ Our team's preferred way of operating (how we typically work)

2️⃣ My individual preferred way of working (the personal preference of each team member - it's very revealing)

3️⃣ The ideal way of working for this team given our future objectives and conditions (what is needed now)

It's a simple exercise that any team can do and takes minimal setup - yet reveals so much.

Almost always, teams are over-reliant on one or two energies. I worked with a leadership team recently that was all Head and Hands. The constellation revealed a hidden truth about being on the team - you can never know enough or do enough. Trapped in a pattern of overthinking and exhaustive effort, they longed for connection and collaboration (Heart).

I've also worked with teams that were primarily Head and Heart. Intelligent, connected, and capable, but paralyzed by the fear of fracturing relationships when making hard choices and trade offs.

Heart and Hands teams (common in healthcare, education, and nonprofits) are filled with good intentions and action but need help prioritizing and seeing beyond the immediate need.

Like spending your day balancing on a two-legged stool, overreliance on any two dynamics eventually leads to frustration, exhaustion, and compromised performance.

You don't need a facilitator to try this exercise. Take 15 minutes at the start of your next team meeting and see what you learn.