3 Mindfulness Exercises Which Go Beyond "Taking-Deep-Breaths" to Strengthen Your Leadership

More than half of 2023 has gone by, and before we know we will be writing Christmas greetings to our family and friends.

How does that thought make you feel?

Would you like to make the most of the rest of the year, feel more present and strengthen your leadership?

Here are three simple mindfulness exercises which go beyond sitting down on a mat and taking a deep breath. Even though the act of sitting in stillness is profoundly helpful, sometimes, it's not enough.

1. Identify 3 crucial conversations - Bring to your attention three conversations which you know you need to have but have been avoiding for some time now. Who are the people involved? What could be the reasons behind not being able to initiate those chats? What feels difficult? Take a moment of silence to reflect and bring your non-judgemental awareness to these situations. Ask yourself, "Is there one simple action step I can take towards having these necessary conversations?"

2. Recognize 3 people who contributed to your growth, helped you in some way, or supported you at work in the first half of the year. One lesson which has taken me longest to learn is that I can't do everything by myself and I can do much more and much better with the support of other people. We often get caught up in trying to figure this life out by ourselves and sometimes we don't appreciate or even notice help and support, even when they might be staring us in our faces. Through mindfulness, we can train our brain to notice these people who offer to help, are willing to help and who show up to help. Ask yourself, "In which area of my life and leadership can I reach out for more support?"

3. Reflect on 3 of your strengths or achievements. Yesterday, I met a friend of coffee. We were laughing away, sharing our frustrations of not being able to meet our own high standards each day, every day. I bet that's true for a lot of us. No matter how much we manage to achieve, we still want more from the day, from our life and from ourselves. So, today, I invite you to pause and shift your attention to a positive trait, a win, even an inch of progress made by you. Today, I am asking you to be your supporter and cheerleader. Ask yourself, "Which of my strengths often get neglected? Which of my strengths do I want to tap into, to complete my current projects?

Mindfulness practices help us take a pause from running a hundred miles an hour and recognize where we are and what needs to be done next. These exercises help us become our own coach and mentor, who is observing us non-judgementally and giving us constructive nudges and notes to help us become our best selves.