Because leading ourselves and others is tough and a challenge. And yet, every challenge is an opportunity for growth and change.
With presence and conscious leadership we have the right tools to turn any challenge into an opportunity for learning.
Because life and work is more fun and more productive with ease and clarity, focus and attention, curiosity and creativity, authenticity and meaning.
Because everything works better when people learn how to take responsibility for themselves and the bigger picture.
Above all, magic happens when conscious people come together to make a difference.
I am convinced that people are awesome and capable of great things – all in our own unique way.
However, being awesome is not always easy, therefore, I believe that supporting one another is the way to go.
When awesome people work together, with presence and intend, awesome things come into being.
Everything is connected.
Consequently, the smallest impulse in a new direction has the potential to change the world.
So, I am convinced that together we can achieve great things.
Mindfulness and self-development are like compound interest for your whole being —the more you invest, the greater the lifelong returns. Unlike fleeting pleasures, these practices build a foundation for a happier, healthier, and more successful life.
Effective leadership requires presence. Seeing what is, sensing what’s coming.
Eckhart Tolle repeatedly speaks of living ‘with life, rather than against it.’ He observes that human almost compulsively avoid the present moment.
As we learn to live beyond the noise, we perceive much more of what is there. Our map of the world fills with detail and provides a strong foundation for good-quality decisions.
Firmly anchored in the here and now, we break stress cycles and live with clarity, balance, and poise. Being present allows us to lead others with focus and intention.
My dad always said, “If no one’s on board, the ship drifts without direction.”
Presence means we are on board and holding the steering wheel of life.
And last but not least:
Life is darn short; without presence, we miss it.
With focus we are able to put aside our filters and see things as they are.
Daniel Coleman speaks of focus as ‘consciously directing attention’ and calls it the ‘hidden driver of excellence,’ right after emotional intelligence.
Our world is fast-paced, distractions are plentiful.
All information is available to everyone.
Attention, not knowledge, is your most valuable asset.
Clarity, focus, and the ability to think from a meta-cognitive perspective have become a decisive competitive advantage.
All learning, all change requires focused attention, and mindfulness is nothing more than training in this kind of attention.
The ability to focus opens the door to mastery.
Complex problems, diverse demands, pressures to perform and meet deadlines dominate our day-to-day work today.
We all at times stumble over old and little useful patterns, or get stuck in our own mind. The issues are diverse.
Inner clarity means that we remain able to act.
Clarity allows us to consciously adopt more appropriate inner attitudes, allows us to manage our state, so that we lean into the challenges of being human with intent and direction.
If we replace harsh self-discipline and the constant drive for self-optimization with an inner attitude of benevolence, curiosity, and kindness, the world presents itself as a different one.
Working on our mindset means taking a new look at the world, life and being human. As we do, we re-create the world from within.
As the famous Henry Ford quote goes: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.”
Do I see life as some great challenge to overcome? Or do I see life as a gift? Two very different realities…
Meeting each moment with openness and curiosity, we create new neural pathways. Thought patterns change decisions and actions – and thus our reality changes with.
Mindset is the key to unlocking potential.
In presence we are authentic. When there is space to be ourselves, reactivity wanes.
Leading authentically means bringing our individuality and uniqueness to our team and organization. Authenticity is often associated with the words honest, reliable, trustworthy, genuine, and true. In psychology, authenticity is also described as owning one’s own experiences—thoughts, emotions, sensations, assumptions, etc.
Presence creates a deep level of self-awareness and self-leadership.
When approached from the roots of our thinking and being human, resulting transformation is sustainable and without yo-yo effect.
By approaching life and leadership from a meta-cognitive level, we don’t simply shuffle old ideas, opinions, and beliefs from one place to another. Instead we grow beyond ourselves, outgrow the familiar and reach into potential and possibility.
The world does not need more of the same; the world needs new solutions to old and new challenges.
According to trend studies, empathy, human relationships, and intuition are the leadership competencies of the future.
For a long time, EI-focused personal development was labeled as ‘soft‘ and ‘feel-good.‘ However, the individual components of every system are always people. People, people, people. People who want and need to get along with themselves and with each other.
Leading with presence and connection means participating in a dynamic and authentic togetherness that draws on both the fragility and genius of humanity.
When you bring conscious people together, anything is possible.
Presence and the willingness to see/hear and be seen/heard create an environment of respectful trust. When employees feel seen and heard, increased employee engagement and retention is generated.
Innovation and creativity find space when self-protection can be put aside because people feel safe, seen, and heard. To cultivate a “we, not me” mindset in our organizations lays the foundation for shaping an innovative future together.
In ‘fight, freeze, or flight’ mode, we live in paradigm of ‘eat or be eaten.’ When our entire human body system strives for survival, there’s not much room for empathy and creativity.
When work and life are no longer stressful and overwhelming, we have room for good-quality thinking and innovative ideas. When mindful being becomes a natural part of our daily interactions, our internal system switches to a ‘stay & play’ mode. We feel safe as fears of survival fade into the background. Living and leading, being creative and awesome becomes available again.
Then I don’t have to prove anything, impress, blame, or convince anyone. We realise that we all carry the same fears and needs within us. Now there is room to connect with authenticity and contribute with empathy and creativity.
Nothing is more innovation-enhancing than feelings of connection, ease, and confidence. When we feel safe, seen, and heard, we value creative exchange and communicate at eye level.
Furthermore, studies show that connection with others is a crucial factor for health and long-term well-being.
Presence empowers us to successfully navigate transformation and change from the inside out. Self-knowledge provides a grounding that allows to be and act in the world as authentic beings.
Resilience is an openness to the unknown, the uncomfortable, the un-thought, the un-made, the new, and the unfamiliar.
All of these are elements that mindfulness teaches. As we sit and practice to be with what is, we learn that there is nothing to fear, nothing we cannot handle.
If we want to create a future that is more than a repetition of the past, we need to be able to see things as they are. We must grow beyond our old interpretations, assumptions, and conclusions.
New ideas, creativity, and innovation are available to us when we consciously and intentionally create space for them. Mindfulness opens access to creative thinking and the full spectrum of available thinking capacities.
Various scientific studies prove that presence and mindfulness increase creativity, and significantly improve the way we deal with complex challenges.
“A mind is like a parachute. It does not work if it’s not open.”
– Frank Zappa
Presence means spending more time here and now, rather than lost in thought. ‘To be present’ means being here, exactly where we are.
When we are here, we are in our bodies, we are connected and able to make better choices about diet and exercise.
Stress cannot coexist with presence.
Presence, well-being, and health thus go hand in hand.
In a world that is constantly and continuously changing, the ability to be flexible and open, in other words ‘agile‘, is crucial.
With presence we are able to perceive smallest ripples of change with clarity.
Mindfulness and a meta-cognitive perspective slow down life’s roller coaster. This empowers leaders to respond proactively rather than react to change.
Being present, that is, being in the moment, no matter how it presents itself, empowers us to make good decisions.
Being fully present and open to the subtle nuances of each moment allows us to notice what others miss.
Add clear thinking, focused attention, conscious communication, and all the other aspects around presence.
Learning and practicing mindfulness translates directly translate into competitive advantage and productivity.
Inner clarity, calm, and curiosity align our being for effective action.
Health, well-being, and connection with others makes us happy.
Solving problems together and being creative feeds the soul.
Curiosity and courage, self-knowledge, and self-leadership bring joy.
Joy is contagious, inspires, and motivates.
Joy and happiness is the foundation of a fulfilling and successful life.
Image: Andy Warhol
Alisha White Design
Shift One – Digital Marketing Agency
TFG Limited – HR Talks
Unilever
PLP Group
Accenture Group
Santam Insurances
NAMFISA – Namibian Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority
Machine – A Creative Solutions Agency
Fluor – Global Engineering, Procurement & Construction
Mr. Price Group Limited
Travel to Grow
RCS Group – Credit, Loans, Insurance
Varsity College
Virgin Active
Graduate School of Business – University of Cape Town
Bernd Remmers Consultants
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