Making Space for Mindful Leadership
What is mindful leadership and why should you care about it?
The world created by the pandemic is demanding something different from us. We can no longer believe in the (illusion) that we are in charge. We sense an enhanced connectedness to everyone and everything. We are truly all in this together.
Although mindfulness is now being embraced in books, articles, videos, and within the organizational walls, experiencing it seems elusive for many people. In fact, many of us have grown comfortable with its absence. We are constantly multi-tasking, plugging into our electronic devices anywhere and everywhere, texting during meetings; both in-person and on the phone. We are addicted to everything but mindfulness and it’s not working for us.
Mindfulness is simply the experience of being in the moment and being present to what is going on in any given moment. We are mindful when we experience “what is” for what it is, no more and no less. Distractions fall away and time seems to slow down. I believe this inner state of centered presence is the prelude to inspired leadership.
Mindfulness in Practice
I was working with a corporate client in Phoenix for a two-day leadership retreat. Although I had been working with the company president for several months, this was the first experience I had with the leadership team in-person.
Mindfulness was on my mind. Although it may have seemed like an odd place to begin our day, I knew we had a lot of important work to do. I needed participants to be sharp, energized, creative, and fully committed. I needed them to be present. I needed them to be mindful.
Although a bit awkward at first, they eagerly participated in an exercise to increase their presence. Once they could experience the benefits for themselves, everything came into clearer focus. Throughout the day, when they needed to recharge and refresh, they understood the value of being mindful as a team. There was a new quality to their contributions; more depth and more willingness to connect. As a result, they created more in a day than any of us thought possible.
One of the observers commented that this was a common practice in golf. He was aware that golf coaches were requiring their athletes to practice mindfulness. It’s commonly used by coaches in pro-sports because what separates the winners from the losers is the mental, inner game. Mindfulness helps creates the inner experience, allowing us to focus only on the essentials of this moment.
The Power of Stopping
Leaders can cultivate a more mindful approach through “The Power of Stopping” the fourth principle in my book, “Step Up Now: 21 Powerful Principles for People Who Influence Others.” Since then, I have been referencing this in dozens of talks, workshops and in work with leadership clients and teams.
I admit that I was initially concerned that I might be marginalized if I were perceived as an executive coach who is “out there.” What I found was exactly the opposite.
Clients found it refreshing, different, and energizing. They were thrilled to have a new approach to their old issues. They reported becoming more effective in their communication with colleagues and family members. Some reported sleeping better and even finding it easier to fall asleep. Many of them asked me to provide individualized practices in our coaching sessions.
One of the crises we are experiencing in modern life has its root in our lack of mindfulness, and organizations are not immune from it. Re-connecting to our own human experience in each moment matters a lot. When leaders are mindful, they create the container for teams to experience more connection. Now communication and trust are possible
Mindfulness can be cultivated through any daily activity; washing dishes or walking the dog. Breathe deeply through your belly, slowly inhaling and exhaling for a few breaths. Take a walk outside without headphones and tune into the sounds around you. Notice what’s different about your experience each time you do this. What do you see that you never saw before?
As you cultivate and develop mindfulness, bring it forward in your team and in your organization and watch what happens. Something new will unfold that wasn’t there, or even possible, before.
Being mindful as a leader will help your leadership leap forward like never before.
