5. Regenerative Intelligence – Bringing It All Together
How combining emotional, somatic and creative intelligence gives your business a future-ready edge
Intro - Beyond Hustle – A Smarter Way to Lead
Running a business in New Zealand today isn’t just about working hard, it’s about working smart, staying adaptable and leading with integrity.
Over the past three articles, we’ve unpacked three kinds of intelligence that help you do just that -
Emotional Intelligence – being smart with feelings, both yours and others
Somatic Intelligence – tuning into your body’s signals to stay grounded and resilient
Creative Intelligence – thinking differently to solve problems and innovate
Individually, each one offers practical value. But together, they form something deeper - what we’re calling Regenerative Intelligence.
This isn’t just a feel-good concept. It’s a real-world, boots-on-the-ground leadership approach that helps small and medium-sized businesses not just survive, but grow in a way that’s sustainable, human and meaningful.
What Is Regenerative Intelligence?
Regenerative Intelligence is about leading in a way that strengthens people, ideas, and systems, not drains them.
It draws on -
Emotional depth (so you don’t get blindsided by people issues)
Bodily awareness (so you stay steady and don’t burn out)
Creative problem-solving (so you can adapt without losing your values)
It’s the opposite of reactive, high-stress, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants leadership. It’s grounded, clear, and forward-looking.
Why It Matters for NZ SME Owners
In today’s climate - economically, environmentally, socially, you need more than technical skill. You need awareness, adaptability, and authenticity.
Here’s how Regenerative Intelligence plays out in daily business life -
§ You sense when a staff member is struggling (emotional intelligence)
§ You check in with your own stress levels before reacting (somatic intelligence)
§ You try a new way of structuring the workload to ease pressure (creative intelligence)
Simple. Effective. Human.
This integrated approach helps you -
Lead under pressure without losing your cool
Make smart decisions that feel right - not just look good on paper
Build teams that trust each other and pull in the same direction
Stand out by doing business with heart and originality
Putting It Into Practice - A Simple Framework
Here’s a way to use Regenerative Intelligence as a weekly check-in tool -
Domain
Emotional Intelligence
Ask Yourself
How am I feeling today? How’s my team doing emotionally?
Practical Action
Name your mood, ask one staff member how they’re going
Domain
Somatic Intelligence
Ask Yourself
What’s my body telling me? Am I tired, wired, or grounded?
Practical Action
Take a short walk or a few deep breaths before key tasks
Domain
Creative Intelligence
Ask Yourself
Is there a new way to approach this?
Practical Action
Try a fresh angle, ask “What’s one thing we haven’t tried?”
Even 10 minutes a week using this lens can shift how you show up as a leader.
What Sets Regenerative Leaders Apart
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be present, curious and open to growing.
Regenerative leaders -
Take care of people, not just profits
Stay calm when others panic
Bring fresh thinking to old problems
Lead in a way that leaves others stronger
In short, they’re the kind of business owners others want to work with, buy from, and learn from.
Closing - This Is the Future of Business
If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s this - The old ways of pushing through, burning out and leaving emotion at the door just don’t work anymore.
What does work? Regenerative Intelligence - an integrated approach that puts people first, encourages creativity and helps you stay steady in uncertain times.
It’s not about being fancy. It’s about being fully human and building a business that reflects that.
Case Study 4. Tane – General Contractor, Northland
Focus: Regenerative Integration (EI + SI + CI)
Situation
Tane had been running a small general contracting business for years. He was solid on tools and timeframes, but managing people wore him out. Apprentices would leave after a few months and he’d end up doing long hours solo. He felt stuck, the work was good, but the culture never clicked.
What Changed
Tane attended a leadership workshop through a local trade association, where he learned about Emotional and Somatic Intelligence. He realised he was ignoring his gut instincts and emotions, trying to “just get on with it.” He started doing a short weekly reflection - how he’d felt during the week, where he noticed stress in his body and what problems he could approach differently. He also invited his team to share ideas more freely and created a “no blame” space to debrief jobs.
Result
His apprentices stayed longer and started stepping up. Tane became more proactive, not reactive - noticing tension early and communicating more clearly. He even found creative ways to manage workflow during winter months. His business didn’t just improve; he felt better in it, like he was finally building something that reflected his values.
Key Move - Whole-self leadership — feeling, sensing, adapting
📞 Phone +64 275 665 682
✉️ Email john.luxton@regenerationhq.co.nz
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If you’d like to read more RegenerationHQ thinking on SME business and other things, go here – www.regenerationhq.co.nz/articlesoverview
🔹 RegenerationHQ Ltd - Business Problems Solved Sensibly.
Supporting NZ SME Owners to Exit Well, Lead Better and Build Business Value.