What we can learn from Silence and Labyrinths
From Maze to a new kind of Leadership: What If Silence Is the Way?
On May 7th, I had the honour of speaking at CHRO Day 2025, an exclusive gathering of HR leaders from Belgium’s largest companies. My invitation? To offer a different take on leadership—through the lens of silence and... labyrinths.
We often live and lead in “maze energy.” Always figuring out the next move, constantly solving, choosing between right and wrong, success and failure. In that mindset, leadership becomes about control, speed, and solutions. But what if there's another way?
A labyrinth asks nothing of you but presence. There are no choices, no dead ends. Just one winding path, full of curves and turns—but always leading to the centre. It’s an ancient symbol of trust, insight, and surrender. It creates space to slow down, to feel, to listen.
During my talk, I invited the audience to look at leadership through a different lens: not as someone who leads the way, but as someone who holds space. A quiet leader isn’t passive—they are present. They dare to pause, to make space for deeper wisdom to emerge. They don’t push; they hold.
I also explored the rich history of labyrinths—from Egyptian temples to French cathedrals, from grand pilgrimage paths to the smallest fingertip labyrinths. And yes, science now confirms what practitioners have long known: walking a labyrinth, even with your finger, supports emotional balance, improves focus, boosts creativity, and promotes healing.
That morning, just before sunrise, I laid out a real labyrinth in the garden outside the venue. I invited participants to walk it with a question—about silence, or leadership—and simply listen. What does your own centre have to say?
Are you looking for a fresh, meaningful perspective on leadership?
Would you like to inspire your team or organisation with the unexpected power of silence and labyrinths?
I would love to bring this experience to your event, seminar, or leadership training.
👉 Get in touch and let’s explore the transformative power of slowing down.
