12 Dec Above or Below the Line? A Simple Leadership Tool for Founders

by Kalika Yap

Some of my favorite moments with entrepreneurs happen in the in-between spaces.

We finish a call, walk out of a meeting, or cool down after a workout, and someone shares a little insight that sticks.

After a recent cycling class, my friend and fellow entrepreneur, Margalit Grunberger, mentioned a short video called “Locating Yourself – A Key to Conscious Leadership.” It’s only a few minutes long, but it really resonates for me.

In the video, the Conscious Leadership Group draws a simple horizontal line and says that in any moment, we’re either above the line or below the line as leaders.

Above the line, we’re operating from trust and learning.
Below the line, we’re in threat and reactivity.

They say things like:

“When we are above the line we are open, curious, and committed to learning.”

“When we are below the line we are closed, defensive, and committed to being right.”

And the first move of a conscious leader is to simply ask:

“Are you above the line or below the line right now?”

That one question made a real impact on me. It made me look at how often I slip into threat, even when nothing looks “wrong” on the outside, and how powerful it is to tell myself the truth about where I am.

Today I want to share this model with you in a practical way, so you can use it in your company, your conversations, and your own inner life.

What “above the line” and “below the line” look like for founders

As entrepreneurs, we move above and below the line all day long.

Below the line might look like:

• You feel tight in your chest before a hard conversation
• You rush to defend yourself instead of listening
• You blame a team member, a client, or yourself
• You replay the same story in your head and feel stuck

Above the line might look like:

• You pause before speaking and take a breath
• You’re willing to genuinely listen
• You ask, “What can I learn here?”
• You tell the truth clearly, without shaming anyone

The model isn’t about being “good” or “bad.”

The real shift comes from noticing where you are, being honest about it, and then choosing if you’re willing to shift.

That honesty is where your power as a leader sits.

Step by step: How to shift from threat to learning

Here’s a simple process you can keep on your desk, phone, or whiteboard.

Step 1: Pause and locate yourself

In a tense moment, take one breath and ask:

“Right now, am I above the line or below the line?”

Answer simply, without explaining or blaming. Just name it.

Step 2: Accept where you are

If you’re below the line, you might quietly say to yourself:

“I’m below the line right now. I feel scared / angry / tight.”

You’re not wrong for being there. Your nervous system’s just trying to keep you safe. Recognizing this lowers the shame and gives you room to choose what comes next.

Step 3: Feel your body

Bring your attention into your body:

• Soften your jaw and shoulders
• Feel your feet on the ground
• Take 3 slow breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth

This helps your system move out of pure threat and into a state where you can respond instead of just react.

Step 4: Turn on curiosity

Ask yourself one curious question:

• “What else might be true here?”
• “What can I learn from this?”
• “What outcome would serve all of us?”
• Curiosity is a strong signal that you’re moving above the line.

Step 5: Choose one small action from above the line

Pick one concrete move that reflects trust and learning:

• Share one honest fact you’ve been avoiding
• Ask a clean, direct question
• Make a clear request instead of complaining
• Name your feeling without blaming anyone

You don’t need a big dramatic shift. One grounded action from above the line begins to reset the tone for the whole conversation.

Using this with your team and company

You can bring this model into your leadership and culture in simple ways:

• In team meetings: “Before we go on, are we above or below the line right now?”
• In conflict: “I notice I’m below the line. I’d like to move into learning with you.”
• In planning: “Let’s check that we’re making this decision from above the line, not from fear.”

Over time, this gives your team a shared language. It becomes easier to:

• Catch drama early
• Have more honest conversations
• Spend less energy on defending, and more on solving what’s in front of you

This is the inner work that sits underneath strategy, marketing, operations, and growth.

Want support applying this as a founder?

If you’d like help integrating conscious leadership into your life and business, I’d love to connect.

You can set up a discovery call for entrepreneur coaching here:
https://calendly.com/Kalika

We’ll look at where you’re getting pulled below the line, what you want instead, and simple practices that fit your real life as a founder.