Dear Reader,

What tells you that you’ve done a good job?

Pause for a second before you answer. Is it a number, a feeling, a comment from someone else, or the simple relief of being done? Most of us have a metric, even if we’ve never named it. And once it’s there, it starts steering far more than we realise.

I noticed this recently, in the most unlikely of places: on my meditation cushion.

Before my last Vipassana retreat, a “good” meditation was easy to define. It was a sit where my mind stayed focused, or where I could feel those subtle body sensations, the pleasant tingling spreading through my body. I counted those sessions as successful. More focus. More sensation. Progress.

It's only now I realise I was measuring the wrong thing entirely.

The whole point of Vipassana isn't to chase pleasant sensations or perfect focus. It's equanimity—the capacity to remain steady whether you're experiencing pain or pleasure, distraction or concentration, itching or bliss. Equanimity is what teaches you that everything passes. The measurement completely changes the practice.

Same thing happened with running. Initially, I was all about speed. Every run was about getting faster. When I began training for the marathon, it was distance that mattered. Then heart rate. Now it's about how my body feels. Where the strength comes from and how to avoid injuries. I want to increase the pleasure whilst running. Less friction, less pain, more joy.

Each measurement shifted what I paid attention to, what training looked like, and most importantly, how I felt about my effort.

Metrics shape our entire experiences.

And this shows up in our workshops and meetings too.

Attendance? Satisfaction scores? Retention? Promotion? Each one directs attention somewhere specific. None of these measures are wrong. But none of them are neutral either. Butts in seats versus actual engagement, pleasant experiences versus necessary discomfort, stickiness versus transformation.

Just like meditation isn’t really about sensations, and running isn’t only about pace, collaboration or learning isn’t about the numbers we often track. The more interesting question is: what are those numbers training us to pay attention to?

And what are they teaching us to ignore?

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🎙 Meanwhile, on the podcast…

Brave work is messy work. It’s an invitation into the dōjō – to be humbled, to get vulnerable, and leave behind what you thought you knew.

Life-long learner, executive coach, culture consultant and facilitator, Dr. Dauv Evans joins me this week to journey beyond safety into the brave space arena. Together, we explore what it takes to build these spaces: the intentionality, the rules of engagement, and the assumptions we must leave at the door to have courageous conversations.

From power imbalances, to conversations on race, Dauv shares his work in helping people to grow together and exist outside of their comfort zone with generosity and passion. A rich, practical conversation about how leaders can show up with humility when it’s needed most.

Find out about:

• What braves spaces are – and why people must be invited into them
• How constructive discomfort can facilitate deeper connection, meaningful learning, and cultural change within organisations
• Why leaders must navigate people’s varying levels of risk tolerance with care
• How to use power positively to facilitate a brave conversation for the better

🎧 Click here to listen to the interview

📥 Check out my 1-page summary

​WW_Episode_353-summary.pdf​

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👀 Watch the unedited interview on Youtube​

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🎧 Join the next podcast club gathering

While counting down the final episodes of workshops work until it's retirement on December 31st, I am inviting you to join me on Substack where I am creating a Podcast Club: https://myriamhadnes.substack.com/​

In January, we will gather around the theme of Polarisation in Facilitation.

​Click here to sign up for free.

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That’s it from my side! I wish you clarity in what you choose to measure, and gentleness with everything that passes. And if you celebrate Christmas, I hope it's a good one. I'll see you next week.

Myriam

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