Whether they realize it or not, the best leaders in the world are mindful leaders. But what does it mean to be a mindful leader, and how does mindfulness impact leadership? To answer these questions, we must first understand what mindfulness means. 

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment. When you’re practicing mindfulness, you aren’t thinking about yesterday or tomorrow — your attention is on the here and now. You are mentally present with the people surrounding you. You are not looking at your phone or thinking about something else; you focus on your current surroundings and the tasks at hand.

Mindfulness is particularly important now because we are living in a digital age where distractions are prevalent. If we are not intentional about being mindful, we risk living on our lives in a constant state of distraction. 

Since we are surrounded by things vying for our attention in today’s world, mindfulness does not come easily. We must make it a regular practice and remind ourselves of it often. This means fighting the temptation to multitask and frequently refocusing ourselves on the present. 

Mindful Leadership

Practicing mindfulness can transform your leadership capabilities in numerous ways. For example, being present and aware of the people around you will improve your listening skills and help you be empathetic. Your team members will be more willing to follow your lead because they will know that you genuinely care about them. 

Think of mindful leadership as the opposite of distracted leadership. Being a mindful leader ensures that you will lead with excellence. You will be more conscious of what others say to you, make more thoughtful decisions, and you will inspire the people around you to be more present in their own lives.   

Mindful leaders are more likely to have mindful team members, which means that your team will be more productive and engaged in their work. As a pleasant bonus, all of you are more likely to be happy and satisfied at work, as well. 

If you want to enjoy the benefits of mindful leadership, start a mindful practice today!