Elevate your role as a mindful leader.
(Published through Ama La Vida's Words of Wisdom - 1/23/24)
“It is clearly important to read and add knowledge to be an effective manager and leader. Even more important is the mind we show up with every day. The practice of mindful leadership optimizes the mind for true greatness.” - Matt Tenney
I’ve been working on incorporating mindfulness into all aspects of life, as being present and intentional makes room for calm and clarity.
Mindful leadership intrigues me as it can benefit from the top-down and increase employee engagement and well-being. Being a manager or the head of a company in modern times is no longer only about having authority, giving guidance, and being visionary but showcasing your ability to bring your whole person to work to relate, empathize, empower, and lead. Being a commander is a much more demanding job compared to before. Feeling challenged at times means you are doing it right! Hopefully, the rewarding part of your job outshines the rest.
If taking a holistic approach to management interests you, the following is for you. The work starts with you, the individual.
Here are four approaches you can start today to elevate your role as a leader:
Self-compassion. Leaders who practice self-compassion will likely be able to exercise the same for those who work for them. Self-compassion is not self-pity or self-indulgence. It’s a way to become aware and release the negative thoughts that don’t help the situation. It serves as a gateway to switching from a fixed to a growth mindset. It cultivates the courage to do hard things and builds perseverance. There also have been studies that suggest self-compassion strengthens our psychological profile and helps build resilience against stress.
Self-assessment. Know the kind of leader you want to be and your current leadership style. This assessment will help you learn about your strengths and blind spots. From a place of honesty and kindness, examine your management style. Ask for feedback to assess what works well and what needs some tune-up. The ultimate goal is to expand your quality and grow your confidence as a leader, not pursue perfection. When in doubt, seek support from those you believe will give you valuable advice or an unbiased voice of reason, like your coach! If you dread receiving feedback, read this.
Self-reflection. Action makes things happen, and reflection makes them great. Reflection is different from assessment. Assessment activates the analytical mind, while reflection comes from neutral observations. Take a few minutes out each day to quiet down and inquire within: “How do I feel about the work I’ve done today? Am I aligned with what I set out to do and proud of how I showed up? Am I leading others from my heart or out of fear? What can I do differently today to better support my employees?” With some vulnerability, lean into your heart space and inner wisdom, where your truth, strength, and inner resourcefulness are. Talk to yourself as a good friend, take accountability like a champ, and trust your ability to rise from any challenges ahead. Be grateful for your learning, take pride in your hard work, and continue to embrace your personal values. This is how you bring the best version of you to work.
Stay present. I’m sure most people already know this one, but it’s not easy to master. You can’t always avoid distractions, but you can train your brain to concentrate through mindfulness activities and productive work habits. Remind yourself to be open and thoughtful in your interaction with others. Focus on what and who is in front of you to free up your headspace to listen and process. This means saying NO to multitasking and taking on too much at once. Additionally, not having enough rest takes away your ability to be present. Hence, self-care is a priority! What distinguishes a good leader from a great one is how intentional you are in your moment-to-moment responses and actions. Give yourself permission to be imperfect but never lack respect, accountability, sincerity, and kindness.
Leading by example inspires your employees, and leading from your heart with compassion and gratitude empowers those you manage. Being a subject expert is excellent but doesn’t guarantee you’ll be a good manager. What matters is how you show up and the willingness to learn. You can’t be there for others wholeheartedly if you don’t work on yourself as a whole person.
