How present are you in your day-to-day interactions as a leader? Learn how you can cultivate the habit of being present in order to up your leadership game.
More...
Often, many of us let distractions (online & offline) hold us back from fully being present in the moment. This prevents us from giving our entire attention to the conversation or the task at hand. As a result, we aren't able to give our 100% to anything, and end up missing key details or opportunities. While this already sounds like a bad thing, it's even worse in the case of leaders.
When leaders are not fully present, the consequences can be even more disastrous as the repercussions can ripple through entire teams, departments and organizations. As such, it is extremely crucial for leaders to cultivate the habit of being present in all that they do, both inside and outside the office. By setting an intention to be non-judgmental, aware and fully engaged, leaders can practice the art of being and, in the process, become better leaders. Here are some tips to help you become more mindful and present:
1) Switch off your electronics
How often are you guilty of interrupting a task or conversation because of a notification on your phone? Chances are, quite often. Some of us are also guilty of using our electronics as a crutch to escape from certain commitments in the present. In order to be fully present, you must not let your online life seep into your offline interactions. Try switching off your electronics during meetings, gatherings and team outings and try focusing on the things happening in the real world.
2) Practice Daily Gratitude
Two things that hold us back from being present are events of the past and fantasies of the future. Instead of focusing on the now, we waste our energy on recollecting things that happened or are yet to happen, both of which are beyond our control. One way to overcome this tendency is by practicing gratitude daily. By writing down three things that you are grateful for in your journal everyday, you will reduce the occurrence of this and divert your attention to things that are actually in your control.
3) Give Back
When you give back, you are forced to focus on others instead of yourself. Secondly, it allows you to experience greater peace and happiness because you get to see how you are positively impacting others' lives. This in turn, allows you to be more present. Therefore, try chalking out some time to help others out either in the form of mentoring, or volunteering.
