3 steps to harness the hidden power of mindfulness in leadership

THE ART & SCIENCE OF LEADING SELF
The Power of Mindfulness

Last week, I shared my story of personal angst and frustration when I took my first Mindfulness class.

You saw me fight against the concept of non-judgment. At the end of the last newsletter, I included a poll where I asked you to identify 1 belief I likely held when I tried my 1st Mindfulness course. There were 3 options:

• Non-judgment is an easy practice to adopt ❌

• Judgment is a necessary component of growth ✅

• Mindset work is a series of simple techniques that anyone can do ❌

The correct answer was that I went into that 1st Mindfulness course believing that "Judgment is a necessary component of growth."

That belief was rooted in my socialization from West Point forward in my career.

What is Mindfulness? 🤔

Today, I want to lay another piece of the foundation that will support our efforts to develop your Mindset.

First, that means getting clear about what Mindfulness is. Mindfulness is about being in the present moment and observing your thoughts without judgment. As you engage in present moment awareness, you are cultivating your ability to observe with curiosity and acceptance.

Contrast that with reacting and attempting to change or control what you observe - the difference is stark.

Mindfulness tends to be most often associated with meditation, but it is more than that.

It’s a practice that can be woven into nearly all daily activities. Prior to the course, I didn’t engage in any sort of meaningful Mindfulness practice. This, coupled with the Mindset that I brought to that course, made my first foray a bumpy ride.

But it ultimately came together for my benefit.

My inability to follow a core principle of Mindfulness - non-judgment - helped me start to see myself a bit more clearly.

While I was questioning, "Why is it important to practice non-judgment," my belief that "judgment is a necessary component of growth" strongly asserted itself. How did I identify this belief? Several factors helped me.

First, there was the strength of my resistance to practicing non-judgment.

Resistance is a powerful red flag alerting you to look deeper. 🚩

Next, while I was attempting to meditate, I started to observe my self-dialogue more closely. 👁 It was FILLED with self-judgment and judgment of others. When the internal chatter was just endlessly running in the background, it was easy to tune in and tune out.

When I was sitting in silence and had to listen to it, it was tormenting.

It never stopped. 🗣

And it was rarely positive. 😱 That realization was jarring. So, as someone who was not ready to do the work, I reengaged in the fight to silence it.

I went back to engaging every thought, relitigating past events, and judging myself.

I wasn't ready to embrace Mindfulness then, but I was a few years later.

Even though I did not enjoy that initial meditation class (or, at the time, feel that it was a good use of my time), I still received immense value. My internal battle surfaced a core belief that had been unconsciously driving and shaping how I led myself and others.

Mindset and Beliefs 🔑

How did identifying my belief about judgment relate to my Mindset?

Remember, Mindset is belief that orients the way you handle situations and/or sort out what is going on. Beliefs are convictions that something is true or real. They shape your worldview, inform how you assign meaning to situations, and influence your decisions.

You form an emotional connection to beliefs.

This is why they are more enduring.

My belief that "judgment is a necessary component of growth" shaped my worldview and sharply defined my first attempt at Mindfulness. That belief constrained my efforts to practice Mindfulness because my beliefs clashed with a fundamental principle of the practice.

👉🏽 My Mindset prevented me from being open and engaging in a way that cultivated Mindfulness.

This is why I know M = f(m). Because when you are practicing Mindfulness, you observe your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and your surrounding environment with non-judgment. This practice offers you insight into your beliefs. That awareness is a powerful place to be when you want to develop your Mindset.

Why?

Because Mindfulness cultivates an awareness of "what your Mindset is."

This is where you must start if you want to move forward to design what you "want your Mindset to be." So, how do you put this insight into practice? Let’s connect the final dots for this week’s issue. 👇🏽

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FROM INSIGHT TO ACTION
Putting It Into Practice

Here are 3 steps you can take to leverage the power of Mindfulness to develop your Mindset:

1. Select a Contemplative Practice. Here are a few options you might consider (there are more - find what works for you):

   1. Meditation

   2. Contemplative Prayer

   3. Tai Chi

   4. Qigong

   5. Breathwork

   6. Journaling

   7. Yoga

2. Determine the frequency and duration you will commit to engaging in this practice. I tell all my clients to pick a frequency that is easily achievable. This ensures you start with a "win" instead of a setback. Trying to go from no meditation to 30 minutes of daily meditation is probably not feasible. But 5 minutes once or twice a week likely is.

3. Accept what you observe during your practice and practice non-judgment.

Trust the process.

Mindfulness is a journey, not a destination. If that reality bothers you, spend time reflecting on what self-insight your response might offer. Don't judge yourself.

Stay curious, and consider how you can use this new awareness to improve your self-leadership and how you lead your team.

We’ll continue to explore Mindfulness and Mindset next week. If you have any questions in the meantime, reply to this email with them. I will answer you.

EXCELLENCE UNBOUNDED
How I Can Help You

🚀 CEO Coaching Programs: Are you a CEO who wants to:

• Skillfully navigate uncertainty 

• Lead confidently

• Drive results

Developing greater leadership capacity in 4 key domains (Mindset, Courage, Resilience, & Innovation) will empower you to do all three.

Book time to learn about the bespoke 1:1 coaching programs I deliver. During this call, we will talk about your challenges, your goals, and how we might partner to fully “unbound your excellence.”

🎤 Speaking Engagements: My mom can attest to the fact that I LOVE to talk. 😂 Now, I put that talent to work delivering talks on Mindset, Courage, Resilience, & Innovation.

A few past clients include KraftHeinz, Amazon Women @ Payments, PAHEi, & the Panamá Chapter of the International Coaching Federation (I delivered this talk in Spanish).

If you are interested in having me speak at your event, please fill out this form.

Until next Sunday,

Shawnette