About Bodily Intelligence

Excerpt from the book “Multiple Intelligences in Business”, written by members and partners of the Cercle du Leadership, based on the annual work of the Cercle, published in 2018 by Dunod.
Chapter co-authored by:
Henri Vidalinc, President of Grant Alexander

Sybille Delaporte, Director of Leadership Consulting and Development
About this book…
“One would say that a person is intelligent if their mind is sharp or measured, or if their reasoning is scientific or relevant. But what multiple competencies truly lie behind intelligence? And how can they be detected, understood, and developed?
Supported by numerous professional testimonials, this essay revisits Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences. Adapted to the business context, Gardner’s 9 intelligences are explored here. We could not resist adding a 10th intelligence: artificial intelligence, now so present in our daily lives. The book takes the reader through these essential intelligences: logical, strategic, emotional, relational, creative, situational, pedagogical, bodily, existential, and finally, artificial.”

About bodily intelligence…
Coherence of body and mind

A natural gift
Bodily or kinesthetic intelligence is the intelligence of movement. It allows the establishment of a connection between mind and body, the ability to use fine motor control to perform a physical activity, and to use the body to express an idea or a feeling. Think of the precision of a surgeon, the finesse of a painter’s stroke, the dexterity of a mime, the grace of a dancer… almost magical. The talent displayed is almost indescribable: “If I could tell you what it is, I wouldn’t have danced it,” noted Isadora Duncan.
From childhood, those gifted with bodily intelligence love to move, play, and explore this gift. They use movement to acquire knowledge about themselves, their physical and mental abilities, and their environment. They are easily identified by their affinity for sports, construction games, dance, crafts, or activities requiring manual dexterity. All these activities demand precision, speed, physical coordination, and motor skills, which they refine from a young age.
Manifestations of bodily intelligence
Body and intelligence are closely linked and mutually influence each other.
On one hand, the body is recognized as a conscious, developed organism constantly interacting with other human faculties. On the other, conscious and unconscious brain functions, such as memory and emotions, are connected to specific muscular patterns. A high level of bodily intelligence allows one to use the body effectively, develop dexterity, and visually express intentions to others. Practical applications include using sign language to communicate or an abacus to learn counting.
Developing this intelligence fosters appreciation of our body, self-expression through it, and better utilization in all personal and professional activities.
Expression in the workplace
Applied to the business world, Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory offers many insights, though not all eight intelligences carry the same weight professionally. Individuals possess several intelligences that evolve with age and experience. For companies, understanding employees’ intelligence types helps create teams with the diversity needed to achieve their goals. This knowledge is also valuable during recruitment to align skills with job requirements.
Bodily intelligence is recognized by the desire to move, constant activity, and active engagement. Those with it need to move, touch, manipulate objects, or use their body to act, solve problems, and communicate non-verbally.
Ways to foster this intelligence include role-playing, drama games, exercise, theater, crafts, outdoor events, dance, and sports, among others.

Benefits
Even if one is not a dancer, surgeon, ergonomist, or manual worker, bodily intelligence plays a role in professional life.
Paired with ease of movement, it offers advantages for roles requiring mobility: salespeople, multi-site managers, maintenance technicians, etc. Beyond travel and autonomy, it may reveal adaptability, action-taking, and risk appetite. Physical endurance, social ease, stage presence, and graceful gestures are assets for asserting oneself in a team. Confidence grows with bodily mastery, making this intelligence a key asset in management.

Body Language
Gestures and body language are undeniable vectors of positive communication. Non-verbal cues often convey more than words. When facial expressions, posture, gestures, tone, and words align, the signals accurately reflect feelings. When signals conflict, a person may be uncomfortable or hiding something. Non-verbal intelligence improves interactions and can defuse conflict. As Paul Watzlawick said, “One cannot not communicate.”
While some non-verbal communication is subconscious, it can be trained. Posture, gestures, and expressions can be refined like an attorney or politician, but effectiveness depends on internal alignment. For charismatic communication, congruence between verbal and non-verbal expression is essential. Work from the inside out: clarify intentions, align with motivations and values, and integrate contradictions to achieve coherent communication.
About the Cercle du Leadership…
Grant Alexander, partner since 2015, actively participates in its work, conferences, debates, and publications. Each year, members focus on a specific theme. 2016 explored leadership engagement, 2017 explored purpose, and 2018 explored multiple intelligences in business, culminating in this book co-authored by multiple business intelligences.