Before we dive into the traits of a mindful leader, let’s first uncover what it means to be a mindful leader.
A mindful leader is someone who embodies leadership by being present, non-judgemental and tackling problems with clarity. Mindful leadership encourages focus, creativity, and compassion while serving others. Additionally, mindful leaders can manage their own workloads while simultaneously organizing the team’s workload. Other crucial mindfulness characteristics include boosting employee engagement, promoting productivity, and managing stress levels. The innate characteristics we mentioned are fundamentals of excellent leadership. However, it can be challenging to embody these characteristics since the world is filled with distractions that can derail us from our goals. As a result, you need to take a deeper look at yourself and figure out if you can lead without ego and put the wellness of your teammates and the organization before yourself.
Here are four traits you should focus on to become a genuinely mindful leader:
Lead by humility
Humility is the quality of being humble and putting the needs of others before yourself. According to Ken Blanchard, “humility doesn’t mean to think less of yourself; it means to think of yourself less.” Additionally, humble leaders can recognize their own strengths and weaknesses and understand when to ask for help. This includes asking for feedback and accepting their own shortcomings when company goals aren’t met.
Humility is also directly connected to integrity. As a result, leaders with humility uphold a high standard of integrity. This way, they can lead with authenticity and guide others meaningfully. This is crucial since leaders often find themselves in challenging situations where the lines between ethical and unethical behavior are blurred. Leaders who lead with integrity can make the right, selfless decisions and put the company’s needs before their own.
Lead by example
Mindful leaders need to lead by example and exemplify what the workforce should do morally and professionally. This is crucial since teams usually look up to their leaders and view them as role models. As a result, unethical behavior or leading with poor interests can influence the organization’s culture and its people. Mindful leaders can guide others positively through their behaviors and inspire them to perform similarly. When you lead by example, you provide a path for others to work toward a common goal with the same ethics. Additionally, you shouldn’t expect your employees to do something you’re unwilling to do. This can cause distrust and a disconnect between leadership and the workforce.
Recognition
Although your employees get paid for doing their jobs, a paycheck sometimes isn’t the only form of recognition people need. As a result, mindful leaders need to show appreciation and recognize employees for their hard work and dedication. You can do this by thanking employees personally or publicly or rewarding them with personalized benefits like time off or gift cards. Regular appreciation is essential since it can also help balance out the critical feedback that leaders need to provide. Employees who are appreciated and recognized are more likely to be engaged, productive, and loyal to the company.
Compassionate communication
Mindful leaders also need to be self-aware and consider how they communicate with their employees. As a result, you need to ensure your emotions are in check before responding to an email or person. Additionally, you should think about what kind of impact your message or communication will have on the person who is receiving it – is what you’re saying honest and beneficial? Taking these things into consideration will help you communicate with your workforce correctly and create a transparent workplace.
Contact Corporate Class today if you want to develop your skills and become a mindful leader. We offer high-quality training, coaching, and consulting to some of the world’s most enormous Fortune 500 companies across the globe.