“To lead mindfully is stretch self-awareness to grasp the whole of a larger situation.”
According to one U.S. government Office of Personnel Management guideline, a successful leader “manages self,” i.e., “sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior; assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues self-development.”
These personal characteristics reflect a self-awareness that sets the stage for mindful leadership, the capacity to grasp a situation holistically to include the people, the problem, and the goals. Perhaps more importantly, mindful leadership involves a personal commitment to motivate others to accomplish a common goal.
Talking with your coach. Modern leaders often want to measure things. Mindfulness is difficult to measure. Nevertheless, tell your coach once a day, or throughout the day, whether or not you have led mindfully. One simple question would be this: Today, was I truly aware of what was going on both in the situation and in my head? Yes or no? The process of making the journal entry, in and of itself, will clarify your thinking. Your coach will ask questions, not expecting an answer, but rather to make you aware of cues and reinforcers that drive the subtle but powerful habit of mindfulness.
How can you make a move towards mindfulness? Two key takeaways for leaders in the trenches.
Read MoreHow we commute to work sets the tone for the rest of our day, but for too many of us, it’s a lousy experience filled with rotten smells, honking cars, and miserable passengers.
Read MoreIt is about being more in the present and thereby being able to do everything with more discipline and focus.
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