Mindfulness is a growing concept in business, one that’s been adopted around the world. Many top leaders practice daily meditation–they’ve experienced its benefits and value, and they report that it makes them a better and more successful leader.
On the basis of their executives’ experience, companies are beginning to integrate mindfulness techniques into their high potential programs, with the goal of creating agile and flexible mindsets in their developing leaders.
If you are still among the skeptics, here are 10 ways mediation can make you a better and more successful leader:
Sharpening your attention. Research shows that a daily mediation practice can help individuals sharpen their focus and improve on their concentration. Our minds tend to wander about half the time, but with meditation you can teach yourself to curb distractions and strengthen your ability to focus.
Developing self-awareness. Meditation naturally leads to increased introspection, which in turn allows you to recover faster when provoked, disengage when you need to, and control bad habits.
Building resiliency. By decreasing anxiety, meditation may be able to boost resilience and performance under stress. Daily mediation can help you keep your composure and reduce the impact of stress.
Cultivating emotional intelligence. A mindfulness practice can help you slow down enough to manage your emotions and respond with empathy and logic. People who practice mindfulness have greater control over their emotions and are less likely to react impulsively to frustrating or emotionally charged situations. This could aid in making more logical decisions and remaining calm.
Enhancing creativity. Studies on creativity suggest that we come up with our greatest insights and biggest breakthroughs when we are in a more meditative and relaxed state of mind. That is when we have the “aha!” moments. Meditation encourages divergent thinking, which generates multiple solutions and is a key component of creativity.
Deepening relationships. Leaders who meditate daily report higher levels of satisfaction in their personal and professional relationships. Meditation can help protect you from the negative effects of the conflict and challenges that are built in to relationships.
Controlling anxiety. Leadership comes with a burden of constant apprehension and concern, and learning to reduce anxiety is among the most valuable benefits of meditation and mindfulness.
Building confidence. Meditating teaches you to stop rushing between things and limiting yourself. It makes you believe that you can accomplish all the things you thought were impossible.
Improving sleep. About 50 percent of people experience insomnia at some point in their lives. Studies show that meditation can help you get to sleep sooner and stay asleep for longer period of time. It teaches you techniques for redirecting or controlling the racing thoughts that frequently result in insomnia, helping you feel relaxed, tension-free, and peaceful.
Fostering equanimity. Especially when it feels like everything’s falling apart, a tool that gives you peace of mind and composure and helps you stay calm and level-headed is a good investment of your time and energy.
Lead from within: Meditation is a secret weapon. If you want to be a better and more successful leader, cultivate it as a daily practice.
N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
- 12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
- A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
- How to Succeed as A New Leader
- 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
- 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
- The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
- The Deception Trap of Leadership
Photo Credit: iStock Photos
Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.
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June 10, 2022
[…] strengthen emotional intelligence, improve self-awareness and enhance creativity. You can read more here on the impact of meditation on fostering good leadership […]
Lori Anding
18. Feb, 2019
My meditative practices have definitely improved my health, leadership, and life in general. I think that by digging deep and seeking self-awareness, at times, has negatively affected my sleep; but, I eventually get back on track. I seem to forget all my “tools” like meditation when I am sleepless in the middle of the wee hours of the morning, LOL. Learning to accept where I am, even when it doesn’t feel good, has helped me move through difficulties faster. I am a true believer in the many benefits of meditation. Great post Lolly.
Maher ALKHATIB
19. Feb, 2019
Hello
My meditation mainly is when I feel good about my self accomplishing a fruitful project whether at work or personal life..like a bonus or a praise from a loved one or superiors..that’s true meditation for me..
I’m also a big fan of all your writing and accomplishments..thankyou for all you do
GOD BLESS
Meditation Montclair
19. Sep, 2019
Thanks for briefing out the power of meditation. While reading this I realized that for better health one needs to eat healthy food in the same way for a healthy mind one should practice meditation. Thanks for sharing such great stuff; I will include mediation in my routine.
Nikhil
18. Nov, 2019
Thank You for explaining so well about meditation. I am really looking forward to implement these techniques and your teachings in my life. Loved this blog!!
Jahnavi Jaanu
13. Feb, 2020
With all the benefits listed, there is no doubt that the person with good meditation, can achieve anything and can be a great leader. Thank you for the very helpful post.
Muhammad Faisal
22. Jun, 2020
Great and amazing blog post on the benefits of Meditation. Meditation is the boon for new generation.
lollydaskal
02. Jul, 2020
Meditation is the heartbeat of our soul which gives us the blueprint to be a better leader and better person.
Meenu Gakhar
11. Oct, 2020
Hello,
Thanks for listing out so many benefits of practicing mindfulness and becoming a good leader. Since I am being a yoga and meditation practitioner, found it so useful and motivational to immediately trying this out and make it a part of my routine to become a better individual. I feel one can see the difference in a few days’ time.
Thankyou.
Iris Smith
02. Dec, 2022
Thank you for noting that meditation naturally leads to more introspection, which helps you recover more quickly when challenged, detach when necessary, and regulate undesirable behaviors. My sister claims to be stressed and to have bad thoughts. I will advise her to practice meditation to create a better life.
Yash Raj Gautam
23. Jan, 2023
Meditation is a key of successful life and it help to make u become a powerful person. It always help to reduce your stress and anxiety, build your concentration and your leadership quality. Thank You All.