Four Steps to Mindful Action
Much of the professional development industry is built on the idea that there is a right way to be a leader, or a lawyer, or an account executive, or a CFO, and that this right way can be taught to, and will fit, any person or situation. But the truth is that there are as many ways to do any of these jobs as there are people in these jobs. The key to becoming the best that you can become is not simply to listen to someone to else’s advice. It is uncovering, and then listening to your own internal wisdom. This is what working mindfully is all about.
Mindfulness is about being fully tuned in to what is going on in the present moment, both around us and within us, with an attitude of openness and curiosity. By practicing mindfulness diligently, we become more objective observers of our world and our reactions to it. We begin to see work situations and challenges more clearly, and recognize our own mental filters and biases in how we understand and deal with them.
This deeper self-awareness clears the way for uncovering our own best nature; the wisdom and deeply held values that lie within all of us underneath our reactive egos and ossified habits. By listening to ourselves in way that is alive and tuned in to the moment, we are able to meet challenges in more flexible and responsive ways that are aligned with who we truly are and what we believe is important.
How can you work more mindfully? Here are some ideas to get you started.
- Tune in. Pay close attention to your surroundings and your mental and emotional reactions to them as you go through the day. What stories do you tell yourself, over and over? What situations set you off? What assumptions do you make about others? What habits do you use, and over-use? This is not about beating yourself up, it’s simply about tuning into reality as it is and understanding how you filter and shape it to suit you. We all do it. The key is to become aware of it. Of course, this is easier said than done - taking a course in mindfulness is invaluable to learning these skills.
- Let go. Look for opportunities to let go of your stories, habits and preferences, and respond to situations based on “the facts on the ground” and your own values. See if you can take your ego out of a situation, and instead respond as you would advise your best friend to. Instead of asking, “What’s best for me?” or “What’s easiest?” ask yourself “What is called for?” If you’re under stress, it may take a few moments or longer to arrive at the answer. Taking a few breaths and checking in with your own state of mind can help.
- Act with intention. Whatever you decide to do, be clear and honest with yourself about why you are doing it. Is it to make a point, to help a friend, or simply to get something off your to-do list? As soon as you bring conscious awareness to your intentions, you are no longer responding impulsively to your environment. You have created a moment of choice, and an opportunity for learning and growth (to paraphrase Viktor Frankl).
- Start again. Once you have taken action, pay attention to the result. See what you can learn. And then put it behind you. Allow yourself the opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them, and perhaps to act differently the next time. Every situation, every moment, is an opportunity to start again. Take your learnings with you, and leave your celebrations and regrets behind.
What is described here is not a quick fix recipe, but rather a lifelong pursuit. Mindfulness is cultivated by increments, one moment at a time. With practice, mindfulness can lead to greater success at work and at home, but even more importantly, it contributes to greater balance, resilience and authenticity. And there’s no better time to start creating those mindful moments than in this one.
Andy Lee is a partner at Working Mindfully, a firm that offers mindfulness training and mindfulness-based coaching and consulting to organizations. Andy has worked with corporations to assess and develop their leadership talent for over 15 years, both as a talent management executive and an executive coach and consultant. During this time he has also studied and practiced meditation. In 2010 Andy merged his two passions to provide mindfulness-based leadership development services to organizations. Andy holds an MA in Organizational Psychology and a certificate in executive coaching, and has been trained in mindfulness instruction at the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness.