The Chair You Lead From

Wellness Quick tips for Teachers
Written By Cynthia Skyers-Gordon

Leadership often involves mental decisions, emails, timelines, and expectations.
But leadership also lives in the body.

The Chair You Lead From is a wellness practice that invites educators to slow down and notice how perspective shapes leadership, presence, and emotional tone.

By intentionally changing where you sit, you gently disrupt routine and invite new awareness—without adding anything to your to-do list.

How to Use This Activity

  • Choose a different chair or spot in your classroom or workspace.

  • Sit there for 2–5 minutes during prep time or after students leave.

  • Notice what you see, hear, and feel from this new position.

  • Ask yourself quietly:
    What do I notice from this seat that I usually miss?

There is nothing to fix. Just notice.

Why This Matters

Educators spend much of their day responding to needs. This activity restores choice, agency, and reflection—key components of calm leadership.

Small physical shifts can lead to emotional and cognitive clarity.

Closing Reflection

Leadership doesn’t always require movement forward.
Sometimes it requires seeing from a new place.

Cynthia Skyers-Gordon

Dr. Cynthia Skyers-Gordon, Ed.D. is the founder of SILWELL-C (Staff-Inspired Leadership for Wellness and Calm), a wellness initiative created to empower educators, leaders, and teams to thrive from within. With more than 33 years of experience in early childhood education, from assistant teacher to director to Education Coordinator, Dr. Skyers-Gordon understands the challenges and opportunities staff face each day.

SILWELL-C was born from her belief that true wellness in schools starts with the staff themselves. By providing calm leadership strategies, practical tools, affirmations, and inspiration, SILWELL-C equips educators and leaders to create supportive, balanced environments where both staff and children can flourish.

Through workshops, consultations, and creative resources, Dr. Skyers-Gordon combines her in-depth expertise with a passion for cultivating resilience, connection, and calm in every space. Whether it’s through her upcoming Wellness Toolkit, the JamBel Storybook, or the Free Wellness Hub, she continues to design practical ways for educators and leaders to sustain their own wellness while inspiring others.

At its core, SILWELL-C is more than a program; it’s a movement: a reminder that when staff lead with wellness, schools grow with strength, calm, and confidence.

https://www.silwellc.com
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