In times of complexity and constant change, how we show up - individually and collectively- matters more than ever. This three-part series, Above the Line, Across the Table, explores what it takes to become conscious teams - teams that lead with presence, honesty, and shared responsibility.
Noticing the Line: The Shift That Changes Everything
In every meeting, moment, or mess, we’re having an impact - whether positive or negative, intentional or not. How we show up matters. And how we show up together shapes the culture we’re creating.
Leadership isn’t just a role - it’s a way of being, and it starts with awareness.
One of the most practical tools we’ve found to build this awareness is the distinction between being above or below the line.
Above the line, we’re open, curious, and present. We pause, listen, commit to learning and take responsibility. Purpose is driving us.
Below the line, we’re reactive and defensive. We try to be right, avoid blame, or stay in control. Fear is in the driver’s seat.
At its core, awareness is the art of noticing - and choosing, moment by moment, how we want to show up.
The Invisible Line Running Through Every Moment
Each of us crosses this line many times a day - often without realising it. One moment we’re listening, the next we’re defending. We say we’re open, but we’re already preparing our rebuttal. We aim for collaboration, yet quietly assign blame.
Crossing this line is human...it’s normal.
And it becomes a choice - once we’re aware of it.
Knowing when we are below the line is key to accessing choice. When we pause and notice, “I’m below the line right now,” we create space to shift. That moment of awareness can break the pattern - and bring us back to choice.
From Individual Shift to Team Culture
Team culture takes shape through a series of small, everyday choices - how we listen, respond to challenges, and hold ourselves and each other accountable. If we want to build cultures of trust and creativity, the work begins not with policies or plans, but with awareness and shared language.
What might shift if your team had a common way of naming reactivity - and returning to presence? Imagine a meeting where someone says, “I think we’re below the line - can we take a breath and check in?” Not as a call-out, but as a call-in. Not as a critique, but as a commitment to what matters most.
For conscious teams, awareness comes before action.
Simple Practices for Conscious Teams:
- Use shared language: Normalise check-ins like, “Are we above or below the line right now?” or “I notice we might be slipping - can we pause?”
- Build reset rituals: A breath, a walk, a shared laugh, reconnecting to a shared purpose - anything that helps the team reset and reconnect.
- Celebrate awareness over perfection: Acknowledge moments when someone notices a shift and chooses differently.
- Make it visible: Keep a visual reminder of the ‘line’ in shared spaces to prompt reflection.
Living the Culture, Not Just Talking About It
Staying above the line doesn’t mean being calm or agreeable all the time. It means being real, staying curious, and taking full responsibility for how we show up. It may not always feel easy - but it can be freeing.
When we show up from presence, we create space for others to do the same. And in that space - where awareness replaces reactivity - something new becomes possible.
Why It Matters?
How we show up- moment to moment - shapes the experience of the whole team. When we’re reactive or unaware, it creates tension or disconnection, often without us realising. But when someone pauses and chooses to shift, it creates a ripple across the team. Others breathe, reset, and respond differently.
Over time, these small moments build a culture where people feel safe to be real, contribute fully, and work through challenges together - the kind of conscious team most of us want to be part of.
Curious Reflection:
- What kind of situations tend to knock you off balance during the day?
- How do you usually notice you’ are not at your best?
- What helps you pause and reset when you’ are in a tough moment?
- What’s one small habit that could help your team stay more aware and connected?
In our next blog, we’ll look at how taking responsibility and being honest with each other can build trust and help teams work better together.
Images by Feodor Cristyakov and Mahdi Mahmoodi on unsplash
