leadership mindfulness

Credit: Dustin Scarpitti

It is wonderful to see the word ‘mindfulness’ appearing in mainstream business environments. There seems to be an increasing number of articles and discussions around the benefits and successes mindfulness can bring – personally, professionally and from an organizational perspective. Leadership mindfulness is finally beginning to get traction.

The world of neuroscience has also begun to measure the effectiveness of mindfulness. What has been ‘known’ for centuries – particularly in Eastern practices – is now scientifically ‘proven’.

Mindful practices are integral to building strong emotional health which is why, with our colleagues and clients, we continually promote the idea of including these as part of the way in which they work.

For instance, even in the middle of a day when there are ‘many things on the go’, there are things we can we do to remain mindful, continue to reflect on our mental, emotional and physical states, and stay present.

Here are some simple and practical techniques (some developed by our colleagues and teachers) that focus our three centres – Body, Heart and Head – and are easy to try.

Five questions

Russ Hudson (www.enneagraminstitute.com) asks the following questions to provide a focus on the centres. Take your time to physically, emotionally and mentally reflect between each question and truly sense, feel and appreciate your responses.

  • Can I feel my feet on the floor and my body in the chair? (What am I sensing?)
  • Can I feel my heart and its connection? (What am I feeling?)
  • Can I be quiet and curious? (What insights come?)
  • Can I experience my breathing? (What am I noticing?)
  • Can I sit here and just ‘be with me’?

Remind yourself

I have found it useful to set a phone alarm or a reminder on your calendar once or twice a day to pause, breath and ask:

  • What is happening to me right now?
  • What is my impact on myself and others at this moment?
  • What does my body feel like (tense, relaxed, etc.)?
  • What (if anything) can I do differently in this moment?

Review

When an important conversation has finished, or you are in the process of making an critical decision, use the amazing questions developed by Marvin Oke and Grant Soosalu from their book mBraining to gain greater insight or clarity:

  • What do I really think?
  • What do I truly feel?
  • What do I deeply need?

If you take a moment to reflect on each of these sets of questions, you will realise that they are not particularly hard, and indeed there are no right answers to them. While mindfulness can conjure images of mysticism or being ‘alternative’ in some people’s minds, it really is very simple.

What’s important is that when you pause and take the time to give questions like these some thought, you immediately bring yourself back to a state of greater balance and greater presence.

Ideally you will make a habit of doing this, because that is when you will really start to notice the benefits.