You are a business leader. You take great pride in the fact that others in your industry look to you for leadership. You are always looking for ways to do better, which is good, but you feel like you have stagnated somewhat. Could you benefit from learning mindfulness? Perhaps.
Scott Moore is an internationally known transformational retreat leader and mindfulness business mentor. He explains that mindfulness has become a priority among business mentors and coaches around the world. Through mindfulness, business leaders are learning new ways to see the world. They are discovering new ideas, thoughts, and perspectives.
The Basics of Mindfulness
Moore defines mindfulness as the practice of being fully present and attentive in the moment. It is a state of mind more than anything else. In addition to this basic definition, the origins of mindfulness indicate that it works best when a person focuses on the moment without any preconceived judgment.
Imagine clearing your mind (as best you can) of all thoughts and distractions. You’re simply going to focus on the very moment you are in. In addition, you are not going to make any mental judgments about what you’re experiencing, who you are as a person, and so forth. You’re simply going to focus on the experience of the moment and nothing else. That is mindfulness.
Granted, mindfulness is not easily mastered. We live in a world that bombards us with daily distractions. In some cases, the distractions come at us moment-by-moment. They are accompanied by loud messages and stress-inducing images and sounds. It is enough to make anyone crazy.
Mindfulness offers an escape. But it does so much more than that. Once a person learns to tune out the external chaos, mindfulness opens up a world of possibilities that can make business leaders better at what they do.
5 Possibilities to Imagine
Perhaps you’re now thinking about mindfulness as a tool for making you a better business leader. How might it help? Here are five possibilities to imagine:
1. Better Decision Making
Moore’s experience has demonstrated to him that mindful business leaders tend to be better decision makers. Mindfulness teaches them to be more thoughtful. It encourages reasoning things through even under stress. Mindfulness encourages honestly looking at different perspectives and weighing all potential outcomes. The result is better decision making.
2. Enhanced Emotional Intelligence
The most successful business leaders understand that there is a place for emotional intelligence in the business world. Mindfulness offers a way to enhance that intelligence by making business leaders more self-aware. In return, they approach colleagues and employees with more empathy and trust.
3. Less Day-to-Day Stress
Mindfulness absolutely helps with stress reduction. Focusing on the moment without any distractions and preconceived judgments allows a person to momentarily leave the outside world to itself. It does wonders for reducing stress.
4. Improved Mental Presence
Moore says that mindfulness is calisthenics for the mind. It strengthens the mind and helps a business leader be more present during the work day. A stronger presence makes business leaders more approachable and more effective.
5. Enhanced Creativity
Finally, mindfulness encourages a level of openness and non-judgmental awareness that helps business leaders be more creative. They are more open to new ideas and perspectives. They welcome innovation.
You may feel like you have stagnated as a business leader. If so, you are not alone. Moore says it’s a common problem. But it is one that can be addressed if a business leader is willing to go there. Moore recommends mindfulness as one of the tools business leaders can utilize to break free from the stagnation.
