Even before the pandemic smashed into all 7.8 billion of us on this planet, there was an emerging buzz about a “new” technique that every leader had to do. As far back as 2015, highly respected business publications like Harvard Business Review, Forbes and Inc. were speaking to the benefits of this magical tool for leaders – and I have been blogging on it since 2013! What is it?
Meditation.
Now meditation has been around for thousands of years, and it’s a part of most, if not all spiritual traditions which have some element of focusing the mind on a single point to come into contact with and activate deeper connection and insight. It’s only recently that the “west” has discovered meditation, often termed “mindfulness” to distance it from spiritual practice. The publications I mentioned speak to many benefits of meditation for leaders. Here are 3 from my experience with my own decades-long meditation practice and my work coaching senior executives:
- Tames the ego – ah, the ego – that devil in your mind that is constantly at war with you, sabotaging your best intentions and derailing every good thing. Meditation helps you to become aware of your ego (you never get rid of it) and this awareness helps you to counter its hold on your life. What does that have to do with leadership? Well, how many times have you said, or heard someone say: “He has such a big ego” or “I wish she would keep her ego in check”? The ego is a huge barrier to effective leadership, breeding a “my way or the highway” autocratic style. And there are not too many people who really like and thrive under that.
- Calms the mind – as long as we are breathing, we never stop the activity of the mind. But by reducing it we can bring a sense of calm. Why is calm important to leadership? Because what you do, is what your team does. If you are running around frenetically, fighting (or even creating) fires as they pop up, making short-term reactive decisions, that’s what your followers will do. Times like this pandemic call for leadership that is aware, focused and steady, and this starts with a calm mind.
- Puts things into perspective – meditation brings you to the present moment, no matter what you are actually doing. We can practice meditation not just sitting with eyes closed, but in daily tasks like washing our hands, sipping our coffee, having a conversation with someone, writing a report. When you inculcate this approach, you realise that what seems like a catastrophe (the pandemic) is simply part of this thing called life. From this place, you are able to be more creative in envisioning a bright future, finding solutions and keeping your team inspired.
Nowadays, there’s a lot of talk about “pivoting”. What we often forget is that effective pivoting requires stability (picture Michael Jordan pivoting on the basketball court – note that one foot is always steady on the ground, no matter how fast he’s moving). Meditation is that stable foot on the ground.
So how do you do it?
The most important thing you can do STARTING TODAY is to commit to daily practice. Even 5 minutes EVERY morning of sitting still, closing your eyes and focusing on your breath before you start work will help. Make this your non-negotiable, solo time. Advise everyone around you that you are not to be disturbed, except for the most dire emergency. I am a stickler for being punctual, but even if you are “running late”, you can spare 5 minutes. It’s worth it.
And do remember that everyone is a leader of something – your business, your department, your family, your life.
OTHER BLOGS FROM MARGUERITE ON THIS TOPIC
How Mindful are you in your work?
ARTICLES ON MEDITATION AND LEADERSHIP:
What Meditation Can Do for Your Leadership
Why You Need to Meditate to Become a Better Leader
Want To Be A Better Leader? Take Five Minutes To Meditate
