Are You in Flow – or Are You Drifting?

From the Desk of the CEO, Cellene Hoogenkamp

This past month I committed to doing my half yearly “Re-view - Re-set - Re-ignite”, a ritual I’ve come to value deeply. What surfaced was a question that still lingers: 

Am I being intentional, or am I being carried by circumstance?

There is a fine line between flow and drift.  Especially in times of constant movement - both economic and emotional. Am I making choices, or letting it be made for me? Let’s be honest - no decision is a decision, not choosing - is a choice. And indecision often comes at a cost.

Living and Leading with Integrity

Do you know the phrase “putting things in the too hard basket”? 

That’s what I have been doing recently. I‘d been avoiding a critical conversation - not because I didn‘t see the need for it, but because I didn’t want to upset that person hence the team dynamic.

To be honest, I drifted.

Normally, I’m quite good at catching the smallest drift, before it gets too much power over me, but this time, I let it slide. I told myself I didn‘t want to upset the applecart. But in truth, I wasn‘t standing in my full integrity.

I had to first have that tough conversation with myself, before I could have it with anyone else.

Don’t you feel like that sometimes in relationships?

Not stepping into role of CEO, hiding behind the gentler “Founder” label, became an out-integrity issue for me. Leadership isn’t always about knowing the next move, it’s about showing up consistently, transparently and in alignment with your values, even when the way forward isn’t clear yet. 

So when does not choosing, or inaction become an out-integrity?

• When it affects or hurts other‘s around you

• When people start to wonder and left unclear or uncertain

• When results start to stall

• When people around you start to lose trust

• When you know better – but don‘t act

Leadership Thought: Integrity isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being anchored, especially in times of ambiguity.

Going with the Flow - Consciously

This can be a great choice for when you are taking time out, being on holidays, as I was on my mid-year re-set!

Flow can be a relief. But it is not the same as avoidance.

For Controllers and Dominants (hello, fellow Type A‘s!) its painful and a waste of time!  Going with the flow, when chosen intentionally, it’s powerful. It invites perspective, collaboration, and sometimes - better answers than we’d come up with on our own.

Just the other day I was encouraged to work more on the business rather than in it. This can be a challenge when you lead a small, hands-on team.  Releasing the urge to micro-managing was a tough call, but I‘m starting to like it as I can see unexpected ideas and ownership emerging around me.

A 2023 McKinsey study found that companies that prioritize adaptability are 4.6 times more likely to outperform their peers during times of disruption.

Leadership Thought:  Flow isn‘t passive. It‘s about knowing when to paddle – and when to let the current carry you (or let someone else paddle).

And Then… There’s Drifting…

Drifting is sneaky. It creeps in when you‘re on autopilot. When the calendar fills up, but the purpose feels distant. In coaching conversations, I see the signs often: disconnection, decision fatigue, or just doing the busyness but feeling unfulfilled.

Burnout is real - often masked by productivity.

My own mid-year pause to re-ignite came just in time. I‘d been pushing forward, but without full clarity. Reconnecting to my “why” helped me re-center.

Recalibration tools:

• Pausing.

• Reflect and ask yourself the real questions

• Reconnecting your “why”

A Deloitte study found that while 59% of executives report feeling exhausted, only 20% feel safe enough to talk about it at work. That silence is where drift begins.

“The difference between flow and drift is awareness.”  

We owe it to ourselves and those we serve to pause often and ask:

• Am I still in integrity?

• Am I adapting with purpose?

• Or have I started to drift? 

Let’s stay alert to signs of drift in ourselves and those around us.

Sometimes, offering someone the support and help of a coach, isn’t just a kind gesture, it‘s a strategic move for long term success.

Until next time,

Cellene Hoogenkamp

CEO & Founder

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