A leading multinational recently commissioned us to conduct a leadership workshop titled ‘Managing Self – Inside Out’ which combined mindfulness techniques with leadership models and tools. In today’s complex, competitive and uncertain business environment, mindfulness is emerging as a critical trait for success and a trend that many organisations are now paying attention to. Since “up to 70% of a team’s climate is determined by the leader.” (Hay Group Research), it is understandable why organisations are now investing in building this critical skill in their leadership.
Jon Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness as “the awareness that comes when we pay attention—on purpose—in the present moment, while suspending judgment”. Mindfulness has been stated as the missing link between functional capability and leadership effectiveness. Take the case of a Marketing Director who was spending over 8 hours at work daily but scoring low on team engagement and leadership impact. A deep dive revealed that though he spent sufficient time with his team, he was not always mentally present and was often distracted. This reinforced the reality that the more a leader is mindfully present with his people, the better they will perform and they more they would accept him. Quite akin to successful parenting.
So, how does mental presence go hand-in-hand with executive presence? Why is this a mandatory combination for a leader to develop? A mindful and focused leader exudes leadership presence. Mindfulness opens the door to emotional connection with oneself and others. An important characteristic of Executive Presence (EP) is to remain focused and present. The equation is simple : communication is an integral part of executive presence, and mindful communication is the cornerstone of effective leadership.
In a survey of 2,000 employees, Bain & Company found that among 33 leadership traits, the ability to be mindfully present (also called centeredness) is the most essential of all. Mindfulness enhances emotional intelligence at the workplace, encourages creativity and innovation and reduces impulsive reactions.
How do you, therefore, learn to practice mindfulness to manage yourself – inside out? Here are 5 practical tips:
- Practise the pause : Pause, step back and notice your thoughts. Mindful leaders understand the importance of being grounded and centred to achieve self-awareness. When you are centred, you are able to communicate assertively and handle challenging conversations and situations with the maturity of an able leader.
- Active listening : Listening with intent is the greatest gift you can give someone. Leaders need to show respect by engaging mentally and physically in a conversation without any distractions.
- Open body language : Learn how to manage your body language – eye contact, posture, handshake, and facial expressions – to make a significantly positive connection and impression.
- Lead with empathy : Empathy and compassion are necessary for nurturing teams and enhancing productivity’. Empathy is a key component of emotional intelligence, which in turn builds trust and rapport. An empathetic leader puts the ‘Why’ before the ‘What.
- Positive self talk : Turn down the volume of your mental chatter. Notice if your inner voice is telling you positive things. When confronted with a negative situation, ask yourself ‘what else is possible?’