Somatic Leadership and the Body as a Tool for Lasting Personal Change

In this episode of Bioenergetics Beat, Heather Gray talks with Croft Edwards about somatic coaching, embodiment, and why leadership is a full-body experience. They explore how our physical posture and somatic patterns shape the way we see the world, make decisions, and show up in both personal and professional relationships.

Croft shares his path from the U.S. Army to ontological coaching, and how he discovered that the body plays a central role in creating change. He breaks down the concept behind his book, The Liquid Accordion, explaining how our bodies are in a constant state of expansion and contraction as we move through life. Listeners will come away with a fresh perspective on how physical self-awareness can support personal growth and more intentional leadership.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Somatic coaching and what it means to coach “in, with, and through the body”
• How body posture and shape influence mood, perception, and decision-making
• The concept of the “liquid accordion” and cellular expansion and contraction
• Why leadership is an embodied practice, not just a cognitive one
• The role of practice and beginner’s mindset in creating lasting behavioral change
• How self-awareness in the body supports better self-leadership

About Croft Edwards:

Croft Edwards is a Master Certified Coach (MCC), leadership expert and the genesis behind LeadershipFlow, the study of how to help individuals and organizations be at their best. He has been coaching and consulting since 2001. He brings a varied and unique perspective to his clients through his application of leadership from both practical and historical perspectives. Croft’s academic training includes business, history, and cutting-edge coaching methodologies. His practical experience is through military leadership, corporate work, and consulting careers, and as President of CROFT + Company, a leadership and change coaching and consulting firm.

Croft’s coaching experience includes coaching over 1000 leaders in all levels of organizations from individual contributors to frontline managers, to senior leaders and C-Suite executives and military flag officers. He has over 10,000 documented coaching hours with leaders. He also facilitates leadership, coaching, and behavioral based courses and programs with firms from government and the military to both for profit and non-profit organizations. He is certified in multiple leadership assessments. He is also the author of two books: The Liquid Accordion: A Somatic and Embodiment Primer for Coaching In, With, and Through the Body for Coaches and Leaders, and LeadershipFlow: Perfectly Square: A Story About Learning to Lead and Transforming a Company.

Croft has earned a B.A. in Financial Administration from Michigan State University; a M.B.A. from Auburn University; and a M.A. of Civil War Studies, with an emphasis in Leadership and Command, from the American Military University. Croft is also a graduate of several U.S. military schools of leadership including the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, RI, and the Army Command and Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS. Croft’s formal coaching education is through the Leadership and Coaching Program from Villanova University and the Newfield Network in Ontological Coaching. He is also a graduate of the Coaching Excellence in Organizations (CEO) Program from the Institute of Generative Leadership.

To learn more:

Website: croftandcompany.com

Book: LiquidAccordion.com

Amazon: Search “The Liquid Accordion” by Croft Edwards