Leadership Tip

How to be more mindful during the day

Many of us operate on autopilot at work, but the ability to maintain focus and concentration is a crucial skill. The good news is you can build this skill by incorporating mindfulness exercises into your day.

  • When you wake up, spend two minutes in bed simply noticing your breath. Resist the urge to check email first thing in the morning, which leads to an onslaught of distractions.
     
  • When you get to the office, take 10 minutes at your desk or in your car to close your eyes, relax, sit upright, and focus on your breath. Set a timer to remind yourself to do a one-minute mindfulness exercise every hour, which will keep you from resorting to autopilot. On your way to meetings, remember to return to your breath.
     
  • When on your commute home, turn off your phone, shut off the radio, and simply be, so you arrive home fully present.

The above leadership tip...
was sent in response to a question from a participant on our 10/10 leadership development and mentoring programme and adapted from How to Practice Mindfulness Throughout Your Work Day by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter. Whether you're a first time manager or an experienced leader, straightforward, practical advice on best practice is hard to find. Until now. To find out how you, your team or your organisation can benefit, please join us on our next complimentary webinar or contact us.

Subscribe

Free weekly email on things you didn't know last week with links to articles on leadership excellence. To view previous editions click here.


Unlock your potential

Whether face to face, or over the telephone, we can develop your leadership skills, support you in making important decisions, and help you reach your potential.

Read More

Leadership Articles

10 actions for effective communication

High-quality communication is an essential element in business and organisational performance. Effective communication relies on engaging with people, having a commitment to building strong and productive relationships and realising that we communicate... read more

10 actions for advancing your career

Standing out at work isn’t about wearing a flashy hat - though, that could help. The more effective way to make an impact is by developing the skills that will get you noticed. Here are 10 strategies for advancing your career: Make skills... read more

10 actions for achieving best performance

Success does not begin with radically changing the way you work or acquiring new skills: the first step is to take what you already do to the highest level.  However trivial it may seem, if you can do a task more smartly than you did before, and... read more

Leadership Tips

How to lead with integrity

Integrity is one of the most tested traits in leadership. It will challenge your courage, cost you popularity, and often place a target on your back. But true leadership means holding the line -  even when it’s uncomfortable. Here’s how to lead with... read more

How to be likeable

Being likable isn’t about trying to win popularity contests. It’s about creating genuine human connections - the kind that make people want to work with you, trust you, and follow your lead. And the good news? Likability isn’t a mysterious talent that a... read more

How to keep employees happy and engaged

Every leader wants a team of dedicated employees. And yet, many fail to do their part to make this happen. Building a team that is both happy and engaged requires intentional effort. It’s not just about offering competitive salaries or generous perks.... read more