Like any worthwhile goal, walking the path of a mindful leader comes with its own challenges. Let’s explore the top 3 …

Manage The Chaos

The first challenge that every mindful leader needs to overcome is to manage the chaos.

We are being bombarded with so many distractions that over the past ten years, our attention span has dropped below that of a goldfish.

The average person receives 120 messages a day, spends anywhere between 35% to 50% of their time in meetings, while assigned to multiple projects with often conflicting objectives, AND they are still expected to stay on top of their daily responsibilities.

There’s also the need to be connected 24/7. Constantly checking our phones and feeling compelled to respond at all hours.

All of these distractions lead to higher rates of stress and anxiety, which explains why depression and burnout are much more common.

Making A Choice

The second challenge that every mindful leader faces is choice.

Assuming that you are somehow able to manage the chaos, the next step is to decide on a course of action.

The problem we all face, in every waking moment, is making that choice.

Our minds are filled with this constant mental chatter, reminding us of all the things that we need to do …

Do I respond to that email? Should I work on that project? What about that status report or that thing my boss asked me to do? I can’t forget to pick up the kids on the way home from work. I wonder what we are doing this weekend?

With so many possibilities, it’s common to want to keep our options open and avoid making a wrong decision.

The truth is that all of this indecision and uncertainty is actually making us miserable.

But instead of taking ownership of our lives, it’s so much easier to give up that responsibility and place the blame elsewhere.

So we welcome the distractions, become numb to the chaos, avoid making the tough choices and live a life on autopilot.

Overcome Resistance

The third challenge that every mindful leader needs to overcome is resistance.

So let’s assume that you’ve cut through the noise, made a choice, and decided on a course of action.

What do you do when you encounter resistance?

Resistance comes in two forms, external and internal.

External resistance is the pushback that we get from the outside world. It comes from our boss, coworkers, clients, spouse, and our kids.

According to Dan Pink, author of “To Sell Is Human,” people spend about 40 percent of their time engaged in persuading, influencing, convincing, and moving others.

It’s impossible to survive in the world without developing the skill of influence.

Internal resistance is the pushback that happens on the inside. It’s the fear, anxiety, negativity, uncertainty, and self-doubt that comes from within, usually triggered when we encounter some form of external resistance.

To overcome resistance, we need to develop the focus and commitment to follow through on our choices.

When you encounter resistance, do you give up or find a way?

What’s Your Biggest Challenge?

I’d love to hear about your situation, and there’s one question that’s on my mind that I’m hoping you can answer.

I’m curious to discover what your biggest challenge is when it comes using the tools of mindfulness to improve as a leader …

So my question to you is this:

When it comes to walking the path of a mindful leader, what’s the single biggest challenge, frustration or problem that you’ve been struggling with?

Post your response in the comments below. 

Thank you so very much!