Have you ever tried Pilates exercises? How do they manage to make extremely difficult movements to look so effortless? They lock and load. What on earth do I mean? Stand or sit tall and lock your rib cage in place by pulling your stomach and back towards one another. Make sure the lower end of your rib cage is not sticking out. Tuck your tailbone under until your back is straight. If you’re following along you should feel like the core of your body is tight and solid. With practice you could swing your arms or legs around without losing this lock and load in the center of your body.

This central stabilization makes Pilates an effective form of exercise. If you lock and load, then you can stretch, bend and pant through movements designed to wave your extremities—making it harder to keep locked in. The trick is to continuously self-correct. Whenever a movement begins to loosen your core, tighten up and then complete the motion. If you can keep it up for very long, you’re getting a good workout. When you maintain your locked and loaded position you’ll have the added bonus of not running the risk of injury.

The same is true for your business. If you know how to lock and load your organization’s core, it will be easier to wave extremities, stretch, twirl, and leap—and it will strengthen you to do so! Certainly, it takes time, effort and focus to lock and load. It is also true that if you undertake a series of Pilates motions without controlling the core of your body, you run a much higher risk of injury. In the interest of individual and organizational health: take time to focus on your core. See how much easier it is to get through a Pilates class when you lock and load!