Dancer, speaker, and relationship coach Linda Sutton reveals how Argentine tango maps to work: leadership & followership as functions, not hierarchy; why consent and distance create safety; and how followers amplify a leader’s intent. From the “Invite → Embrace → Boundaries” framework to a simple reset line—“I’m just here to follow”—this convo turns dance into a practical playbook for teams and Work Besties.
Chapters
- 00:00 Tango, Body Language & Relationships
- 08:21 Leadership & Followership in Tango
- 16:53 Power Dynamics: Leading vs Following
- 25:07 Build Trust Through Movement
- 30:10 Body Language & Emotional Cues
- 36:03 Follower Amplifies the Leader (Tiny Lead, Big Expression)
- 39:39 Workplace Leadership & Teams: Applying Tango Principles
Key takeaways
- Roles = functions, not power. There’s no leader without a follower—partnership is an agreement.
- Invite → Embrace → Boundaries. Define closeness and consent explicitly (at work, too).
- Body > words. Most signals are nonverbal—read posture, distance, and tone for alignment.
- Safety is visible. Consent & distance are real-time cues leaders must protect.
- Amplification effect. A tiny lead becomes a big expression—the follower reflects and magnifies intent.
- Lead by listening. Build micro-feedback into every “step” so teams adjust before things break.
- Reset misalignment. Use the calm prompt: “I’m just here to follow.”
Try it this week
- Set your team’s embrace: agree on boundaries (response times, meeting norms, off-limits hours).
- Practice “no solutions—just space.” Ask “Do you want advice or a listening ear?”
- Run a micro-feedback loop: after each meeting, one sentence—“What worked / what to tweak next time?”
Guest: Linda Sutton — dancer, speaker, creator, relationship coach
Book: It Takes Two to Tango (the 22-step framework mentioned in the episode)
Website (as mentioned): lindadesutton.com • lindadesutton.com/ebook
Hosts: Jess & Claude — Work Besties Who Podcast
If you enjoyed this, follow, rate ★★★★★, and share with your Work Bestie!
Tags: leadership, followership, tango, body language, psychological safety, teams, workplace communication, boundaries, trust, micro-feedback
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