This week I dug into the archives and pulled up a few favorite posts from 2022, not too long after I started this Substack newsletter. I added a short article (co-written with AI) at the end just for fun. Back in a couple of weeks to share some of the new stuff I’ve been working on!
I’ve been having fun playing with AI queries, and today I asked Perplexity.ai to write a short article that uses metaphors from massage therapy in organizational change. Here’s the result. You can download a copy here if you’d like to share it.
Unblocking Organizational Flow:
Metaphors from Massage Therapy
Organizational change, like massage therapy, is a journey beneath the surface—a process of uncovering, releasing, and realigning. While the outward forms differ, the underlying principles share a profound resonance. By exploring the metaphors of touch, tension, and transformation from massage therapy, leaders can gain new insights into guiding their organizations through change.
The Gentle Art of Revealing, Not Causing, Pain
When a massage therapist’s hands find a knot, the resulting discomfort is not the therapist’s creation. Instead, it is the body’s way of revealing where energy, stress, or emotion has become stuck. In the same way, organizational change often surfaces tension, resistance, or pain that was already present—hidden beneath routines or unspoken norms.
Leaders should not fear the discomfort that arises during change, nor take it as a sign of failure. Instead, they can view it as valuable feedback—evidence of areas where the organization’s energy is blocked, where communication has stalled, or where old wounds need healing.
The Power of Presence and Listening
A skilled massage therapist listens with their hands, attuned to subtle cues: the tightening of a muscle, the rhythm of breath, the body’s silent requests. In organizational change, leaders must cultivate the same presence—listening deeply to the organization’s pulse, noticing where anxiety flares or morale dips.
Change agents can foster trust by being present, attentive, and responsive. Sometimes, simply acknowledging pain or resistance is the first step toward release.
Working with, Not Against, Resistance
In massage, forcing a muscle to relax only leads to more tension. Instead, therapists apply gentle, sustained pressure, allowing the body to yield in its own time. Organizational change requires a similar approach: working with resistance, not against it.
Rather than pushing through opposition, leaders can apply steady, compassionate attention. By creating safe spaces for dialogue and allowing time for adaptation, resistance can gradually transform into engagement and openness.
The Importance of Integration
After a deep massage, therapists often encourage rest and hydration, giving the body time to integrate the changes. In organizations, too, change must be followed by periods of reflection, rest, and consolidation.
Leaders should build in time for teams to process, absorb, and make sense of new ways of working. Integration is where true transformation takes root.
The Flow of Energy and Alignment
Massage therapy seeks to restore the natural flow of energy through the body, releasing blockages and realigning structure. Organizational change, at its best, does the same—freeing up creativity, improving communication, and aligning the organization’s efforts toward a shared vision.
Change is not just about fixing problems, but about unlocking potential and restoring a healthy, dynamic flow throughout the organization.
Embracing Discomfort as a Pathway to Growth
Just as a massage therapist’s touch reveals and releases what is stuck, organizational change surfaces and resolves what holds a team back. Discomfort is not the enemy; it is a messenger. By embracing this metaphor, leaders can approach change with greater empathy, patience, and wisdom—helping their organizations move from tension to transformation, from stagnation to flow.
When we see organizational pain not as something inflicted, but as something revealed and ready to be healed, we unlock the true potential of change—not just to fix, but to renew and revitalize.