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When I think of mindful leadership, I think of being real, raw, and present. I lead from a place of honesty and momentary connection with the person or group in front of me. There is no planned strategy or practiced response – just a curious, open presence. This allows me to interact deeply and respond authentically.
Over the years, I have developed several mindful leadership practices that have changed my management style and have had a profound impact on our company culture.
1. Start your day grounded, without rushing
I start my day early in the morning sadhanai.e. time dedicated to yoga and meditation. As a non-negotiable a part of my routine, I deliberately give in to my ego before I get into the day. This practice keeps me humble and grounded, which allows me to approach leadership from a position of service moderately than control.
Instead of feeling superior or assuming I have all the answers, I connect with myself so I can authentically connect with others. This practice helped me set the tone for how I desired to present myself as a leader – calm, focused, and present.
This grounding directly translates into the way you approach a meeting or make a difficult decision. My mere presence can change the atmosphere in the room, which normally creates space for more honest communication and teamwork. Instead of rushing to answers, we step back, breathe, and evaluate the topic from multiple perspectives. This strategy seems unusual, especially in a tense company environment, but it has proven to be relatively effective for me and my team.
2. Integration retreat
I prioritize personal and skilled development retreats for myself and my team to cultivate heightened self-awareness. Such immersive environments help us escape from our every day routines, fostering collective growth and introspection. In my experience, the atmosphere of a retreat breeds a sensitivity and honesty that can rarely be achieved in a conventional office setting. These retreats catalyze shared development experiences, bringing the team closer together and creating deep bonds.
One of the highlights of my leadership journey occurred while teaching English in Asia. You see, I’m dyslexic and have at all times struggled with uncertainty regarding spelling, reading and writing. I have carried this anxiety with me throughout my life and it has often held me back from taking full advantage of opportunities.
After some thought, I purchased a one-way ticket to Thailand. Despite my insecurities, I used to be determined to show English. After a month of pounding the pavement, I auditioned for a language school. The subject I used to be alleged to teach was sports. I felt like a fraud, barely making it through the audition, but I survived and got the job. Over time, I became a school teacher trainer and that’s when I shared my story with my former trainer. Facing fear freed me, and it became a lesson I practice every day – to go directly through fear as an alternative of bypassing it.
3. Admit your mistakes
Leaders naturally fall into the trap of believing they have to have all the solutions. However, admitting mistakes and being open may be much more practical than attempting to present a perfect image. I own my mistakes. I do not act like I know every part. I stay silent if I do not have anything essential to say. When you make a mistake, call it out. Discuss what you would do otherwise next time. This shows that you possibly can learn from mistakes and sets the tone for continuous improvement for the team.
My team recently accomplished experiential training designed to advertise each profession and personal development. The idea of synergy – where 1+1=3, meaning that together we could achieve greater than each other, was one of the principal conclusions. This concept was implemented this week when the team was facing a tight project deadline. The team quickly got here together, developed a strategy, implemented it, and then reconvened to evaluate what went well and what didn’t. The ego was less present. There was honesty about methods to best contribute. There is a clear group consciousness about meeting and exceeding expectations.
Our common language and self-awareness gained from the workshops helped us work together without ego and unnecessary friction. The process was refreshing for each member, and this energy was evident in customer feedback. This approach is a stark contrast to traditional leadership, which frequently emphasizes control, strategy, and ego-based decision-making. In turn, mindful leadership encourages openness and the preference for growth over perfection.
4. Maintain clear and honest communication
I speak clearly, without sugarcoating. It’s not personal, but at all times based on results. Sometimes reality may be difficult to just accept, but a clear understanding of the situation is crucial to creating progress.
In conventional leadership, there is often a tendency to tiptoe around the truth or to melt feedback in a way that reduces its impact. However, in my experience, this approach creates confusion and hinders progress.
I have noticed that with clear and direct communication, my team functions with greater trust and efficiency. We focus on the tasks at hand and find ways to extend our support for each other in achieving goals and moving the mission forward. This approach has significantly improved our operations and created a positive culture that values feedback as an opportunity for personal and skilled development, moderately than mere criticism.
Throughout my leadership experience, I have seen how essential mindful leadership is. It requires full commitment, authenticity and focus on personal and skilled development. It’s about building a culture that values authenticity over superficiality and service over control. The journey continues to unfold, and the significant impact of mindfulness-based leadership is unquestionable – each for me and for the people I have the honor of leading.