I recently had my first expedition call on Essence, and it left me reflecting deeply, not only on what my essence in leadership is, but why it shows up the way it does. I have always considered myself a values-led leader. Passion, determination, authenticity, consistency, and acceptance are central to how I show up, so naturally, values formed a key part of my Essence map. However, the more I explored the idea of essence, the more I realised that the body plays a significant role in how I lead.
I think this comes from two key areas:
- The Body as an Essence in Sport
Sport has fundamentally shaped who I am. As an athlete, your presence is rooted in your body; how you move, how you carry yourself, and how you express yourself physically. This is especially true in gymnastics, where performance and identity are so closely intertwined.
As I’ve stepped into coaching roles, this awareness has deepened. Often, as a coach, you are one individual leading a larger group. Your physical presence becomes essential, not only to capture attention but to guide, support, and create a safe environment. It’s about enabling athletes to explore movement while ensuring structure and security.
Initially, I believed this was the main reason “body” held such importance in my Essence map.
- The Body as presence in Young Leadership
Through conversations with others in the group, I began to realise that my age also plays a significant role in this. As a young leader, you are often surrounded by people with more experience, people who have been in the environment longer and may feel more certain in their decisions. Accepting this is important; we cannot lead without learning.
But in that space, the body becomes even more powerful. It becomes a tool for communication, showing openness, willingness to learn, and compassion. At the same time, it allows me to create a presence that says: “I may be young, but I am here to lead, contribute, and support.” This balance between humility and presence feels central to my Essence as a leader.
The process of exploring Essence is not easy. Often, we lead in certain ways because it feels natural; because it aligns with our values, purpose, and passions. But being asked to clearly define why we lead that way is both challenging and incredibly thought-provoking.
This was only my first session, and already I can sense that my Essence map will continue to evolve. With each conversation and experience, my understanding of myself as a leader is shifting.
A question for you:
I am beginning to see Essence maps as something that constantly evolves alongside us on our leadership journey. Do you agree? I would love to hear from you in the comment section, about how your understanding of yourself as a leader has developed over time, and whether your own Essence map has changed as a result.
About the Author
Kayla Hardman is a sport development professional with experience delivering national and international participation programmes and events for British Gymnastics. With a background spanning athlete, coach, volunteer and professional roles, she brings a holistic, participant-centred approach to sport leadership.
In her current role, Kayla leads inclusive community initiatives through the Rise Gymnastics programme, implementing scalable delivery frameworks that improve access to recreational sport and strengthen long-term participation pathways. She has managed national competitions and festivals from planning through to evaluation, and has represented Great Britain internationally as the International Federation Representative for World Gym for Life Challenge 2025, working closely with international federations and local organising committees.
Kayla is passionate about using sport as a tool for social impact, community cohesion and positive culture change. Alongside her professional work, she serves as a National Youth Board Member for Access Sport, contributing to inclusion-focused strategy and youth-led decision making. She is driven to help shape a more inclusive, sustainable future for women and communities in sport.
One Comment
Such a powerful piece Kayla. I do agree that as you discover more deeply how you lead, your Essence map changes for sure because of the new discoveries. A couple of year ago, I thought leading meant being the loudest in the room and so, I did exactly that. But over the years, I rediscovered that I can don’t have to be the loudest but when I speak or address the room, I need to be bold. Bold in how I approach people, problems, achievements and life in general