Issue #24 - Mindfulness and Staying Present: The Competitive Edge You Didn’t Know You Needed

The holiday season is here! My neighbor has the new record—Christmas lights up within a week after Halloween! He’ll be pulling the whole neighborhood along like Rudolph until we all get in line and comply.

Last time I kicked us of with Part One of a Three-Part series about “Winning the Close Calls”. Since then, the Kansas City Chiefs finally lost, but it was by more than one score – keeping their 6-0 record of games decided by one possession or less, intact. Conversely, the Cincinnati Bengals who are now 4-7, have lost six games by that same margin. Thinking about that dichotomy for a moment, it really is remarkable how close we are to being elite… or not. Earlier this year, I talked about a point made by James Clear how when the pressure is on, we don’t rise to the occasion—we default to our systems. So how do we behave when the heat is on? How should we prepare for those moments? Are we mentally prepared to make the right decisions, most of the time?

In the midst of chaos, the ability to stay calm, focused, and present is often what separates success from failure. When there are fast-moving decisions that could go either way, mindfulness is a skill that can turn those 50-50 moments into wins.

Mindfulness isn’t just about meditation or clearing your head—it’s about how you fully engage in the moment, tune out distractions, and direct your energy toward what matters most. Leaders and teams that master this skill gain clarity in situations that overwhelm others. They make better decisions, apply sharper insights, and deliver stronger results.

Think about those times when everything feels urgent—competing deadlines, endless notifications, or an unpredictable client meeting. These moments are ripe for mistakes, overreactions, or missed opportunities. Mindfulness offers a simple but profound counterbalance: it allows you to slow down your thoughts, assess the situation clearly, and make intentional decisions rather than impulsive ones.

Keeping with my sports metaphors as an example: an NBA player taking the game-winning free throw can’t afford to let the pressure of the moment distract them. The great ones block out the noise, focus on their form, and execute is mindfulness in action. In business, it’s the same: staying present under pressure creates the space for us evaluate options clearly. We make decisions that inspire confidence in our teams and often tip the odds our way.

Here are three approaches I use that work, and are worth testing out:

1. Create Space to Pause and Reflect

For Yourself: I find small moments of stillness throughout the day to ground myself and remind myself what is important in that moment. It helps me to reset my focus and brings clarity to tackle the next hard problem.

For Your Team: Encourage your crew to build reflection into their processes, especially after a big meeting or a project sprint. Encourage them to take a step back, review what worked, and identify what didn’t. This reinforces a culture of presence and awareness.

2. Eliminate Distractions and Focus on the Now

For Yourself: In high-pressure moments, we have all heard this: single-tasking beats multi-tasking every time. I’ve trained myself to give full attention to one issue at a time, even if that means letting go of the other 10 items on your list temporarily. Having clarity on the task at hand improves outcomes.

For Your Team: Encourage “distraction-free zones” during critical tasks or meetings. For example, have certain discussions be laptop- and phone-free so that everyone is fully engaged. Push This! Presence is contagious—when one person models focus, others often follow suit.

3. Practice Staying Calm Under Pressure

For Yourself: I simulate high-pressure scenarios. For example, when rehearsing for a big presentation, I put myself under tight time constraints or will walk away from the screen to test my preparation. In other cases, I will game-theory decision making based on incomplete data in quiet sessions to expose myself to controlled stress so I can perform better under real pressure.

For Your Team: Run drills or scenarios that mimic high-stakes decisions. These don’t have to be formal—quick problem-solving exercises in meetings or “what-if” discussions help your team build resilience. I’m notorious for the drive-by’s and throwing hand grenades to help the team normalize challenges so they’re less overwhelmed in real situations.

?Practical Wins

Being mindful and present has measurable results to include better decision making, improved focus, and stronger relationships. In a world full of noise, staying present is your competitive advantage. Mindfulness helps you avoid mistakes and will position you to seize opportunities when they arise. By creating space to reflect, eliminating distractions, and practicing calm under pressure, you can build this skill for yourself and your team and win those 50-50 moments. As leaders we are appropriately focused on the future because our stakeholders depend on us. But don’t forget there’s no tomorrow unless you can get through today.

PS: No more sports analogies for the rest of the year. Happy Early Thanksgiving!