Mindful leaders know that serving others is the key to better business results, greater team involvement, happier followers and a sustainable future.
Act Mindfully Many of the leaders I see in my emotional intelligence-based executive coaching practice of over twenty-five years are working long hours and are stressed-out. Some of my clients complain of low energy and exhaustion. They frequently are sleep deprived. Getting adequate sleep is an enormous help in restoring mental clarity and the drive to succeed.
My holistic approach to coaching is to work with the whole person, so upon request I weave into my leadership development work the importance of stress resiliency, mindfulness, daily meditation practice, exercise and proper nutrition. I recommend clients see their physician if they have specific health concerns, and make referrals to nutritionists, fitness trainers and other health experts when appropriate.
Act mindfully and savor your relationships at work and at home. Stop doing things that no longer serve you. Create the powerful habit of “pacing” yourself to restore energy, build resiliency and create well-being.
“Respect yourself and others will respect you.”– Confucius
Identify Patterns
Watch this hilarious video: Bob Newhart-Stop It http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow0lr63y4Mw
In his thought provoking book “The Power of Habit”, Charles Duhigg, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, tackles an important reality head on. That is, people succeed when they identify patterns that shape their lives–and learn how to change them. This idea–that you can indeed change your habits–draws on recent research in experimental psychology, neurology, and applied psychology.
Duhigg looks at the habits of individuals, how habits operate in the brain, how companies use them, and how retailers use habits to manipulate buying habits. The author’s main contention is that “you have the freedom and responsibility” to remake your habits. He says “the most addicted alcoholics can become sober. The most dysfunctional companies can transform themselves. A high school dropout can become a successful manager.”
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Peter Cook
January 3, 2014 at 7:58 am
Stopping stuff is much harder than starting things – it’s the unlearning challenge.
I’m sure Michael Jackson would not have had a hit if he called his song “Wanna be stoppin’ something” instead of “Wanna be starting something”
More like this in my books “Sex, Leadership and Rock’n’Roll” and “The Music of Business” at The Academy of Rock Website
Craig Polsfuss
January 6, 2014 at 1:04 pm
Thanks for the interesting and useful article, Julie. I appreciate your mentioning the neuroscience aspect. My work in Higher Brain Living, a recent significant neuroscience advancement, additionally energizes the pre-frontal cortex, which in turn empowers a profound shift experientially, cognitively and functionally.
In effect, habits that do not serve us become organically and intentionally re-wired and replaced with ones designed by the highest intelligence in our brain. This changes the rules of the game. As a psychologist, I have never seen such fast, profound and lasting change.
If you’d like to discuss this and perhaps share it with coaches – who are a prime resource of change agents – I would be happy to connect. Hope so!
libraryofprofessionalcoaching
January 8, 2014 at 11:23 am
Maynard: I always appreciate your contributions to the library. Very thoughtful and based on your own extensive experience and wisdom as a coach and counsellor.
Keto Fitoru
November 27, 2019 at 10:43 pm
This is a very interesting article on the power of habit and the different ways on how we can change them for the better.