Mindful Leadership

The nature of my work with the armed forces brought me into direct contact with many personnel wanting to confide in me about their personal concerns. These discussions often involved issues of both mind and body, and it was a side of the job that I thoroughly enjoyed and gained great satisfaction from.

Diet and weight control were high on the list of worries. Many people allow themselves to fall into what I call the buffet mentality, and without thinking, just keep eating, way beyond the actual needs of their body, and my approach to this much debated topic was always to encourage thoughtfulness. 

Thinking through the implications of our actions and taking responsibility for our own well being, implants a mindset that enables us to take control of our lives. Some people call this mindfulness, but whatever we choose to call it, this is a highly effective strategy for getting our problems under control. The implications of not thinking about our actions can be catastrophic, and seeking help to resolve personal issues brings with it the power of accountability.

Knowing that you are accountable to someone who is aware of your aims and who is sympathetically supporting you, can give a huge boost to your chances of success.

Mindful thinking is a habit that pays huge dividends in every aspect of our lives and I often talk to my clients about mindful leadership. 

My lack of experience in the business world has unexpectedly proven to be a considerable advantage. I have been able to observe clients from outside their "business bubble", applying my military experience in a completely unbiased way, and It has become clear to me that many senior business people in leadership roles are functioning on "automatic pilot", using their experience to "fire fight" through each week in survival mode, They have no feeling for their work, no tools to help them appreciate what they achieve, or the impact they have on others.

Time just vanishes and they remain unaware of how their actions may be having positive and negative effects on the performance of the business.

Clients who have completed my online course comment on how, by becoming more mindful of their leadership style, they have found ways of making very meaningful changes to their working methods. Small but significant changes have amongst other things, lead to reduced personal stress levels, improved functionality within teams, and greatly improved workplace dynamics.

I'm Stuart Waddington, founder of Star Development UK. I'm on a mission to provide business owners with the opportunity to drive business growth and self-development, by unlocking their leadership potential and connecting with like-minded peers. If you are a business owner, serious about making changes, building your awareness and sharpening your leadership saw, then you're ready to enlist in Business Owner Bootcamp - Turning founders into leaders.

In 2018 I left the RAF having served for 12 years delivering leadership training (and physical training) across all 3 services.

Why did I leave?

1.    To prioritise what I value most - spending more time with my family

2.    To take control - I am the master of my own destiny

3.    To challenge myself - results don't come from following the path of least resistance

I now find myself running my own business through personal choice, ensuring that I can prioritise my values, take charge of my life and challenge myself at every opportunity.

It gives me a deep satisfaction to know that I am living with purpose and striving towards a worthy goal and, in doing so, helping others to realise their goals too.

Every client I set on the path to becoming a great leader serves as further affirmation that I made the right choice in leaving the armed forces. I want to share my knowledge and experiences from the working world and from my military background to give business owners the greatest chance of unlocking their own leadership potential.