How mindfulness can make you a better leader Hult Blog

Written by Katie Reynolds, a Hult contributing blogger. The trend for mindfulness is clearly on the rise, with apps, self-help books, and courses all available to help you harness the power of mindfulness to lead a more peaceful, productive life. Mindfulness practice involves focused breathing and meditation techniques, encouraging you to pay attention purposefully in the present moment and become more aware of yourself, your feelings, and your environment. In today’s volatile business environment and time-poor working culture, mindfulness practice is becoming increasingly relevant for professionals. A research team at Hult International Business School, led by Ashridge Executive Education Associate Professor Dr. Megan Reitz, has undertaken a pioneering study to examine how mindfulness training and practice can influence individuals in leadership positions. Rather than a passing fad, Dr. Reitz’s findings suggest that the practice of mindfulness can indeed be a powerful tool to help individuals lead more effectively. [Tweet Rather than a passing fad, mindfulness can be a powerful tool.] This article summarizes the three key leadership capabilities that mindfulness practice can help to develop: resilience, collaboration, and leading in complex situations. To learn more about Dr. Reitz’s findings and discover ways to become more mindful in your own professional and personal life, you can watch her recent webinar below. Mindfulness builds resilience Challenges, setbacks and even failures are inevitable in business. Resilience means having the mental toughness not to let failure mean defeat, allowing you to face adversity, maintain motivation, overcome risks, and recover or adapt quickly. That’s why resilient individuals are seen as more effective leaders. [Tweet Resilient individuals are seen as more effective leaders.] In Dr. Reitz’s study of 57 professionals across industries, over two-thirds felt that mindfulness training improved their resilience to a â€Å"great† or â€Å"very great† extent. How? Mindfulness involves metacognition and meta-awareness. That is, the ability to recognize your own thoughts and emotions in the present moment and to step outside of yourself to observe them. This recognition allows valuable mental space for self-reflection and the opportunity to regulate your emotions and choose your response, rather than operating on an â€Å"autopilot† gut reaction. Less stress, greater confidence, and more balanced decision making is the result, putting a mindful leader in a better position to adapt in the moment and be resilient in the face challenges and setbacks. â€Å"Resilience requires emotional regulation—it requires adaptability and it requires perspective.† Dr. Megan Reitz, Associate Professor of Leadership and Dialogue Mindfulness promotes collaboration In today’s global business environment, collaboration—particularly cross-cultural collaboration—is key for success. To be an effective, collaborative leader requires understanding, empathy, and the ability to take in new perspectives. The same metacognition that improves resilience can also build the empathy that’s required for meaningful collaboration. By using mindfulness techniques to better recognize and regulate your own thoughts and feelings, you in turn become more aware of what the people around you may be feeling, too. They may be stressed or angry or overwhelmed. Or they may have an idea or solution you might not have otherwise considered. This awareness can help you to see a situation from someone else’s point of view, putting your own feelings into perspective. Being aware of the feelings of others in your workplace can go far to create understanding and a real human connection that can inspire better teamwork and make you a more motivational leader. Mindfulness improves leadership in complex situations â€Å"In the midst of uncertainty and distractions, if you’re able to choose to focus, if you can see a challenge from a number of different perspectives, and if you can regulate your stress levels, you’re likely to be able to lead more productively.† Dr. Megan Reitz, Associate Professor of Leadership and Dialogue Resilience and collaboration are two capacities that closely connected to the ability to lead in complex situations. And complexity, volatility, and uncertainty are often the defining qualities of today’s business environment. Rather than responding emotionally with anxiety, anger, or panic in difficult situations, mindfulness can better equip you to stay calm under pressure   and make a conscious choice about your response. Acting decisively and with clarity of thought in challenging circumstances is precisely what’s required for effective leadership. [Tweet Mindfulness can better equip you to stay calm under pressure.] Empathizing with and being open to the ideas and perspectives of others can also help those in leadership positions to adapt in new or unexpected circumstances, armed with options to choose the best solution. â€Å"One of the most important capacities that leaders today can develop is this ability to step out of automatic pilot and open up a tiny space to choose a response. If you have a space to respond, you’re more likely to regulate your emotions, you’re more likely to empathize with the person that’s in front of you, you’re more likely to prioritize and adapt to the current situation and to choose a response that’s more productive.† Dr. Megan Reitz, Associate Professor of Leadership and Dialogue By incorporating regular mindfulness practice, individuals and organizations can better prepare for the demands of business leadership in the 21st century. And with this new understanding, mindfulness training is becoming part of our leadership development curriculum at Hult. Ready to develop your leadership skills? Find out more about Hults business programs. Megan Reitz is Associate Professor of Leadership and Dialogue at Ashridge Executive Education at Hult where she speaks, researches, consults and supervises on the intersection of leadership, change, dialogue and mindfulness. She has presented her research to audiences throughout the world and is the author of Dialogue in Organizations; Developing Relational Leadership (Palgrave Macmillan, 2015). Hult contributing blogger Katie Reynolds is a freelance writer based in London. Originally from Michigan in the U.S., she relocated to the U.K. in 2010 to pursue a masters degree at Hertford College, Oxford. Today, she writes on topics including business, higher education, healthcare, and culture. Grow your leadership capabilities with an MBA in international business at Hult. To learn more, take a look at our blog Why every leader needs a growth mindset, or give your career a boost with our Masters in International Business. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .