There’s a lot of talk about “mindfulness” and “mindful leadership” these days, which is good. But it’s sometimes difficult to understand. The basic idea is really easy to understand though. It’s just a matter of having a choice and making it. That’s it, as Emily reminds us. – InPower Editors.
For years I’ve been touting “mindful leadership” as the intersection of career advancement and personal fulfillment – and yet a lot of folks have no idea what I’m talking about.
I’ve heard you – and so I’d like to take this opportunity to go back to the beginning.
The very beginning.
As in, let’s start by defining mindfulness, shall we?
Mindfulness is the ability to pay complete attention in the present moment, seeing things without judgment as they are and not as you want them to be.
In other words, when you can come to a place of acceptance that, no, he’s not coming back or, yes, you did just receive that diagnosis, you can get out of the mental snow globe surrounding WHY it happened and turn your attention to what needs to happen.
This is typically where people get confused.
They think mindfulness is trying to “make” something happen or achieving a mental state of perfect peace.
Not true.
Mindfulness isn’t about trying accomplish anything other than an extremely heightened state of awareness.
Because when you act out of awareness, you stop living on autopilot reacting to triggers all day, and start choosing who you want to be in each moment.
Intentional, eyes-wide-open, choice.
Of course, taking ownership of this choice is where leadership comes in.
Because while awareness is always the first step, sometimes even that’s not enough. Take my eating disorder in college for example. I knew exactly what I was doing – the problem was I didn’t know how to stop.
This is why “leadership” in the context of mindfulness simply means choosing wisely.
In addition, I think it’s also important to note that, traditionally, leadership has been defined as setting a vision and inspiring others to help achieve it.
As a result, we’re conditioned to think of leadership through the prism of followers.
In the (true) practice of mindfulness, you’re not really concerned with externals like this.
In mindfulness, your concern is getting to the root of your thoughts, your perceptions, and your actions.
I know that sounds a bit selfish and neurotic until you consider the end result is actually the most generous, extraordinary gift you could give someone else.
I mean, think about being a mother.
Same thing in leadership.
Your wholeness shows others what is possible for themselves.
And, believe me, if you don’t feel even remotely close to “whole”, you’re missing out.
I know because I’ve been on both sides of the fence.
I’ve lived in “the snow globe mind” but I’m happy to say that – through years of research, practice, and working with the right mentors – I not only have the tools to choose differently… I have the blessing of sharing them with you.
So now it’s your turn to choose.
I have to warn you, though, this isn’t a typical executive leadership class.
To put it bluntly, I don’t care about your to do list.
I care about your to be list.
I care about whether you wake up each morning taking ownership of how you show up in the world and inspired to be of service to those around you.
That’s what wakes me up in the morning.
And, by the way, that’s mindful leadership.
Originally on: Emily Bennington
