CEO MONTHLY / JUNE 2025 13 Why Every Founder’s Growth Plan Needs Breathwork By Rebecca Sutherland, CEO and Founder of HarbarSix Let’s be honest: When we talk about growing a business, most people reach straight for the numbers. Forecasts, funding rounds, marketing funnels, profit and loss. All important, no question. But if you’re a founder, you already know there’s a whole other side to building something meaningful. One that doesn’t live in spreadsheets or investor decks. It lives in you. Your energy, your clarity, your resilience. And this is where breathwork comes in. Yes, I said breathwork. Not a revenue model. Not a new app. Not a time-blocking hack. Your breath. It sounds simple, maybe even a bit fluffy, but I promise you, this is one of the most overlooked growth tools out there. And if you’re serious about scaling, it’s time to stop ignoring the power of your own nervous system. Your mindset is your business plan As founders, we love a plan. We map out user journeys, plot quarter-by-quarter growth, and pin our hopes on the next campaign or product iteration. But we often forget the one constant in all of this – ourselves. You are your business’s greatest asset. And when you’re dysregulated, overwhelmed, scattered or burned out, it shows. In your decision-making, your team dynamics, your creativity. It all starts to wobble. That’s because success isn’t just about what you do, it’s about how you show up. You can have the most airtight strategy in the world, but if you’re mentally foggy or emotionally tapped out, you won’t execute it well. You’ll second-guess yourself, delay key moves, or worse, push through with so much tension that your body starts waving the white flag. Breathwork brings you back online What breathwork does – and I’m talking about intentional, guided breathwork, not just “take a deep breath” – is help you regulate your nervous system. It moves you from fight or flight into rest and restore. From frantic to focused and from reactive to responsive. And let me tell you that shift changes everything. I’ve seen founders go from stuck in analysis paralysis to suddenly having the clarity to make bold, aligned decisions. I’ve watched teams transform because a founder started leading from presence rather than pressure. I’ve had clients breathe through blocks that years of mindset coaching couldn’t quite reach. The body holds onto stress and old patterns far longer than we realise, and breathwork gives us a direct line to release them. The science backs it too For anyone wondering if this is just spiritual fluff, let’s talk facts. Breathwork has been shown to reduce cortisol, lower blood pressure, improve focus, and boost emotional regulation. It can help you sleep better, think clearer and even feel more connected to others, which is exactly what you need when building a business that actually lasts. And no, you don’t need to be a yogi or wear white linen to do it. You can do breathwork in your hoodie at your desk, five minutes before a pitch or investor call. It’s accessible, practical, and incredibly powerful. Energy is contagious – especially yours Have you ever walked into a room and felt someone’s stress before they even said a word? That’s the energy you bring as a founder. Whether you realise it or not, your nervous system sets the tone for your whole business. If you’re constantly in survival mode, chances are your team is too. They’ll mirror that energy, even if they can’t name it. On the flip side, when you lead from a regulated state, calm, grounded, and focused, your team feels it. It creates safety. It invites creativity. It gives people permission to slow down, zoom out, and do their best work. That’s not woo, that’s leadership. Your breath doesn’t lie One of the most humbling things about breathwork is how honest it is. You can’t out-think your breath. You can’t manipulate it into pretending everything’s fine when it isn’t. It will show you where you’re holding tension, what you’re avoiding, and even what you’ve outgrown. And while that can feel uncomfortable, it’s also wildly freeing. Because once you’re aware, you can change it. You can release the stress that’s been keeping you small. You can breathe through the fear that’s been making you play safe. You can start to build not just a successful business, but a sustainable life. Build your business from the inside out So, what does it look like to actually include breathwork in your growth plan? It might be as simple as starting your mornings with a short conscious breathing practice. It could mean booking monthly breathwork sessions alongside your board meetings. It could even become part of your team’s wellbeing strategy, helping your whole organisation operate from a more grounded place. The point is, this isn’t about replacing your spreadsheets. It’s about remembering that you are the engine behind them. If your mind is racing and your body is constantly braced for the next crisis, your business will reflect that. But if you can pause, reset, and breathe, you make space for better decisions, deeper connection, and braver growth. So, the next time you plan your next big move, don’t forget to check in with your breath. It might just be the missing piece you didn’t know your growth strategy needed.
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