C-Suite Network™

Menu
Search
Close this search box.

Author: Holly Duckworth

Are you looking to lead your business in a different, more sustainable way?  If so, then a conversation with Holly Duckworth is a must. Holly believes we are human beings, not human doings and teaches leaders how to bridge the personal practice of mindfulness into profitable business culture.

Founder of the C-Suite Network Mindful Leadership Council the premiere community for where mindfulness and leadership connect. The council she leads creates, contributes, and advances mindful leadership as a practice in the workplace. This is an elite group of professionals dedicated to the application of what mindfulness is, and the advancement of personal and emotional support for leaders to grow the income and impact of their businesses.

Holly Duckworth, CAE, CMP, LSP is CEO of Leadership Solutions International, is a trailblazer transforming businesses and industries as a contributor to the New York Times, Producer/Host of the Everyday Mindfulness Show with more than 150 episodes Holly has provides training programs on applied mindful leadership around the world.  Bring Holly to your company conference or event to educate, connect or inspire.

Overcoming Leadership Stress Through Mindfulness

The importance of being present while having a positive and resilient mindset has never been as vital as it is in today’s world of information overload, social media, and short attention spans. Cut through the challenges and learn how mindfulness can benefit you personally and create more opportunities for your productivity and business growth.

For all leaders, from aspiring through executive who need to perform in high stress or uncertain situations.

Everyday Mindfulness: From Chaos To Calm In A Crazy World

The stress of living today requires us to have stress reduction and focus techniques. Science has proven that mindfulness-based stress reduction is reducing health care costs and improving productivity and happiness. Mindfulness teaches you how to be fully present in each experience to become your best self. This session teaches you 7 applied mindfulness practices you can do at your desk, in your car, everywhere you go.

For leaders of all levels in need of inspiration and motivation to get through the most challenging days.

How To Increase Your Strength, Pride & StaminaAs A Mindful Sales Professional

The stress of living as a sales professional today requires us to have focus and stress reduction techniques while selling. Look at your business mindset and the sales process in a different way. As a result of this session, you will make a commitment to be your most empowered and confident self while selling your unique product, or service.

For sales leaders (especially commissioned professionals and top producers) when you need to increase sales in a sustainable way.

Leadership Begins With Visionary Questions: How Inquiry Increases Your Innovation & Solutions

With all the changes in our lives and workplace, the need for a greater inquiry, and the opportunity to imagine the future, why are we not asking visionary questions? When you don’t, much is left on the table and you have minimized your and others’ influence, leadership, curiosity, and change perspectives. Join us to discuss simple yet often not practiced, methods that lead to different types of questions. Notably, visionary questions.

For all leaders when you need to increase creativity, provide clarity, and innovation.

Today Holly takes the best of her strategic vision expertise, blends it with mindful leadership practices and her event background to curate conversations, and experiential events that change hearts, minds and companies.

Holly’s is among Biz Bash most influential thought leaders for 2019, Meetings Today 2018 Trend Setter for her applied mindfulness work and 2016 Smart Meetings Woman of the Year. Holly’s current best-selling book, Sell More, Stress Less: 52 Tips To Become A Mindful Sales Professional offers mindful tips for sales leaders.  Her daily motivational book Everday Mindfulness From Chaos to Calm in A Crazy World is a best seller.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 |Are you looking to lead your business in a different, more sustainable way?  If so, then a conversation with Holly Duckworth is a must. Holly believes we are human beings, not human doings and teaches leaders how to bridge the personal practice of mindfulness into profitable business culture.

Founder of the C-Suite Network Mindful Leadership Council the premiere community for where mindfulness and leadership connect. The council she leads creates, contributes, and advances mindful leadership as a practice in the workplace. This is an elite group of professionals dedicated to the application of what mindfulness is, and the advancement of personal and emotional support for leaders to grow the income and impact of their businesses.

Holly Duckworth, CAE, CMP, LSP is CEO of Leadership Solutions International, is a trailblazer transforming businesses and industries as a contributor to the New York Times, Producer/Host of the Everyday Mindfulness Show with more than 150 episodes Holly has provides training programs on applied mindful leadership around the world.  Bring Holly to your company conference or event to educate, connect or inspire.

Overcoming Leadership Stress Through Mindfulness

The importance of being present while having a positive and resilient mindset has never been as vital as it is in today’s world of information overload, social media, and short attention spans. Cut through the challenges and learn how mindfulness can benefit you personally and create more opportunities for your productivity and business growth.

For all leaders, from aspiring through executive who need to perform in high stress or uncertain situations.

Everyday Mindfulness: From Chaos To Calm In A Crazy World

The stress of living today requires us to have stress reduction and focus techniques. Science has proven that mindfulness-based stress reduction is reducing health care costs and improving productivity and happiness. Mindfulness teaches you how to be fully present in each experience to become your best self. This session teaches you 7 applied mindfulness practices you can do at your desk, in your car, everywhere you go.

For leaders of all levels in need of inspiration and motivation to get through the most challenging days.

How To Increase Your Strength, Pride & StaminaAs A Mindful Sales Professional

The stress of living as a sales professional today requires us to have focus and stress reduction techniques while selling. Look at your business mindset and the sales process in a different way. As a result of this session, you will make a commitment to be your most empowered and confident self while selling your unique product, or service.

For sales leaders (especially commissioned professionals and top producers) when you need to increase sales in a sustainable way.

Leadership Begins With Visionary Questions: How Inquiry Increases Your Innovation & Solutions

With all the changes in our lives and workplace, the need for a greater inquiry, and the opportunity to imagine the future, why are we not asking visionary questions? When you don’t, much is left on the table and you have minimized your and others’ influence, leadership, curiosity, and change perspectives. Join us to discuss simple yet often not practiced, methods that lead to different types of questions. Notably, visionary questions.

For all leaders when you need to increase creativity, provide clarity, and innovation.

Today Holly takes the best of her strategic vision expertise, blends it with mindful leadership practices and her event background to curate conversations, and experiential events that change hearts, minds and companies.

Holly’s is among Biz Bash most influential thought leaders for 2019, Meetings Today 2018 Trend Setter for her applied mindfulness work and 2016 Smart Meetings Woman of the Year. Holly’s current best-selling book, Sell More, Stress Less: 52 Tips To Become A Mindful Sales Professional offers mindful tips for sales leaders.  Her daily motivational book Everday Mindfulness From Chaos to Calm in A Crazy World is a best seller.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 |Are you looking to lead your business in a different, more sustainable way?  If so, then a conversation with Holly Duckworth is a must. Holly believes we are human beings, not human doings and teaches leaders how to bridge the personal practice of mindfulness into profitable business culture.

Founder of the C-Suite Network Mindful Leadership Council the premiere community for where mindfulness and leadership connect. The council she leads creates, contributes, and advances mindful leadership as a practice in the workplace. This is an elite group of professionals dedicated to the application of what mindfulness is, and the advancement of personal and emotional support for leaders to grow the income and impact of their businesses.

Holly Duckworth, CAE, CMP, LSP is CEO of Leadership Solutions International, is a trailblazer transforming businesses and industries as a contributor to the New York Times, Producer/Host of the Everyday Mindfulness Show with more than 150 episodes Holly has provides training programs on applied mindful leadership around the world.  Bring Holly to your company conference or event to educate, connect or inspire.

Overcoming Leadership Stress Through Mindfulness

The importance of being present while having a positive and resilient mindset has never been as vital as it is in today’s world of information overload, social media, and short attention spans. Cut through the challenges and learn how mindfulness can benefit you personally and create more opportunities for your productivity and business growth.

For all leaders, from aspiring through executive who need to perform in high stress or uncertain situations.

Everyday Mindfulness: From Chaos To Calm In A Crazy World

The stress of living today requires us to have stress reduction and focus techniques. Science has proven that mindfulness-based stress reduction is reducing health care costs and improving productivity and happiness. Mindfulness teaches you how to be fully present in each experience to become your best self. This session teaches you 7 applied mindfulness practices you can do at your desk, in your car, everywhere you go.

For leaders of all levels in need of inspiration and motivation to get through the most challenging days.

How To Increase Your Strength, Pride & StaminaAs A Mindful Sales Professional

The stress of living as a sales professional today requires us to have focus and stress reduction techniques while selling. Look at your business mindset and the sales process in a different way. As a result of this session, you will make a commitment to be your most empowered and confident self while selling your unique product, or service.

For sales leaders (especially commissioned professionals and top producers) when you need to increase sales in a sustainable way.

Leadership Begins With Visionary Questions: How Inquiry Increases Your Innovation & Solutions

With all the changes in our lives and workplace, the need for a greater inquiry, and the opportunity to imagine the future, why are we not asking visionary questions? When you don’t, much is left on the table and you have minimized your and others’ influence, leadership, curiosity, and change perspectives. Join us to discuss simple yet often not practiced, methods that lead to different types of questions. Notably, visionary questions.

For all leaders when you need to increase creativity, provide clarity, and innovation.

Today Holly takes the best of her strategic vision expertise, blends it with mindful leadership practices and her event background to curate conversations, and experiential events that change hearts, minds and companies.

Holly’s is among Biz Bash most influential thought leaders for 2019, Meetings Today 2018 Trend Setter for her applied mindfulness work and 2016 Smart Meetings Woman of the Year. Holly’s current best-selling book, Sell More, Stress Less: 52 Tips To Become A Mindful Sales Professional offers mindful tips for sales leaders.  Her daily motivational book Everday Mindfulness From Chaos to Calm in A Crazy World is a best seller.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories
Growth Management Personal Development

Can I be Mindful and Use My Technology?

This is among the top five questions I get asked as a mindful leadership authority.  The answer is well… in the definition of mindfulness itself.  Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment without judgment. So, if that is what we are practicing then I cannot judge if you can or can’t be mindful with your technology.  If you have ways to be fully present with your technology and be productive then you are practicing mindfulness.

So, with that said the answer for me is an unavoidable yes, and.  Yes, in today’s world where we are connected to technology 24/7/365 I sense for humans to practice mindfulness it may in fact start with a piece of technology.

Top 3 Mindful Technology Apps:

Insight Timer:  Knowing as the #1 Free Meditation app for sleep, relaxation, and more we are proud to have our podcast, www.EverydayMindfulnessShow.com included on this app.  Here you will find more than 7,000 mindful teachers with courses, meditations, and playlists to help you focus on the now, reduce anxiety, and re-connect with yourself.

CALM:  Looking to quiet your mind?  Millions use CALM, named an Apple Best Of App their mission is to make the world happier and healthier.  On this app, there are meditations, stories, and more.  CALM also has a business app to build a resilient workforce for mental fitness.

10% Happier: Do you get fidgety just thinking about meditation? This is the app for you.  This app hosts expert teachers to walk you thru the basics one breath at a time. Based on the book and work of Dan Harris former ABC News anchor where he shares his journey from skeptic to the daily meditator.

While these apps each have different features and benefits they all are an invitation to mindfulness or meditative practice.

As C-Suite network readers, I know you want to be at the top of your professional performance, so I’d add these two tools to consider.  These tools offer ways to turn down your other technology to become more fully present with yourself.  We use website blockers to block our ability to access social media sites that may be distracting. We love the tool Freedom.to that has several lockdown features.  We also use the chrome web store extension StayFocusd helps you do just that, stay focused. StayFocusd increases your productivity by limiting the amount of time that you can spend on time-wasting websites.

Questions to check your mindfulness with technology:

  • Is this technology, phone, app, webpage tool supporting me?
  • Is this technology supporting my ability to be present with others?
  • Does this technology tool make me mind less?  Or bring me back to the moment?
  • How many hours am I on technology?

The use of technology is a necessary part of life in 2020 as such to be a mindful leader with technology you need to become aware of it if it is a support to the life you want to have or a distraction from it.  There is no right or wrong answer, it’s the right or wrong answer for you.  You know in your heart if you are on your devices too much.

And, it’s good and healthy for your eyes, hands, back, and body to take mindful breaks through the day and even a technology vacation once in a while.

Holly Duckworth, CAE, CMP, LSP, is a nationally recognized speaker, author, and coach for mindful leadership.  Her company Leadership Solutions International work with stressed-out leaders to create profits, peace, and presence.  Look for her podcast www.EverydayMindfulnessShow.com on C-Suite Radio and library of award-winning mindful leadership and sales books at C-Suite Book Club.

 

 

 

Categories
Growth Management Personal Development

Are You Wealthy? Three Ways To Get Closer to How You Define Wealth

In this new state of 2020 living, it is often easy to ignore the pile of bills, avoid calling that creditor, and even fear to reach out for a new source of financial flow. In a recent conversation with my financial team, one advisor commented, “Holly now is the time to get closer to your money, not farther away from it.”  I was so deeply moved by his words of encouragement I wanted to share them with you.

“Now is the time to get closer to your money.”

As the founder of the C-Suite Mindful Leadership Council people often come to me believing that as a council we do not talk about money. That would be taboo.  Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment, with non-judgment. This includes money. Money is a part of our lives in every moment. Moment to moment we are circulating money by making it or spending it.

If we are learning nothing from the news, social media, riots, protests, and conversations. We as a human society need to talk more about, well, almost everything.  It’s time we navigate a new relationship with our money, budgets, spending, and resource allocation at work and home. Let’s get closer to our thinking, believing, and acting with money in business and home.

Three ways to overcome the taboo around money:

  • What you think about you bring about with your money. As you approach money be it a card or cash think positive and good thoughts about it.
  • Believe again. This pandemic has challenged so many people financially.  This is the one time in history the entirety of the global human family is facing financial decline.  Let the possibility concept of money bring you back to life. With each new dollar circulating in and out of your bank account think about the power of your breath and how it circulates in and out without you having to think about it. As you get the awareness of your money circulation going again you can set it on a path to easeful flow.
  • When you get stagnant with money you become stagnant in all areas of your life. Find small ways to circulate money. Even if it’s something like buying a drink from the kids at the lemonade stand or donating your change at the check-out. Make every interaction you have with money a positive one.  Then stand back and watch more money flow through your life.

What we think about money, believe and how we act with money we bring about.  I believe you already are wealthy, and from that place of consciousness draw more wealth to you and your business.  In a recent episode of the Everyday Mindfulness Show, we talked with Simone Milasas about living the life you are not supposed to have. If you come from the belief system of thinking where you are not supposed to have the money you may be creating that as your life experience.  Check out her show linked here with 5 questions to navigate what you think you should have as wealth in your life.

Often in society, we weave the words wealth and money together.  At this time of renewal, I invite you to dive a little deeper into your connection with the word’s “wealth” and “money”.  What is wealth to you? What is money to you? Maybe by separating the two concepts, you find new ways personally and professionally to be wealthy.  To be wealthy is to be plentiful.  In this time of re-set, we must not lose faith in our own ability to be wealthy.  See plenty in your bank account no matter the balance.  See wealth as you define it. Feel wealth. Sense wealth in every aspect of your life. Know wealth as the truth of your business.

For more information to apply for membership in the C-Suite Network Mindful Leadership Council visit.  https://c-suitenetwork.com/councils/mindful-leadership-council/

Holly Duckworth, CAE, CMP, LSP, is the founder of the C-Suite Mindful Leadership Council, a nationally recognized speaker, author, and coach for mindful leadership.  Her company Leadership Solutions International works with stressed-out leaders to create profits, peace, and presence.  Look for her podcast www.EverydayMindfulnessShow.com on C-Suite Radio and library of award-winning mindful leadership and sales books at the C-Suite Book Club.

Mindful people: delivering powerful business results.

Categories
Best Practices Growth Health and Wellness

Thought Leader Resources – Future of Meetings

Inside the Mind of a Meeting Professional

As a thought leader, you may not even know what is going on during a “normal day of a meeting professional let alone a “new reality” day.

 

The initial question to ask is – Is this planner dealing with an event that has been previously booked, planned, and contracted or a brand-new event?  Recognize if dealing with a previously booked event they may still be working within the confines of that event contract.

 

As a thought leader, you may be dealing with many titles acting as meeting professionals attempting to analyze an event before, during, and after.  From each of those vantage points, the questions begin.  Before deciding whether an event should be in-person/face to face or virtual, review the following complex arrangement of questions and decisions.

  • What do I do before the event? (face to face, virtual or hybrid)
  • What do I do onsite at an event? (face to face, virtual or hybrid)
  • What do I do after an event? (face to face, virtual or hybrid)
  1. Who are my attendees? (demographics)

What industry does the attendee represent?

What are the health, age, considerations of the attendees?

Are there travel bans in place for the attendee?

Are there travel bans in place for the host organization/company?

At what level are the attendee’s technology-enabled?

At what level is the organization technology-enabled?

  1. Where is the meeting located?

State, local, national, international

  1. Transportation to the meeting?  Transportation once on-site at the meeting/event?

Car, plane, train, uber etc.

  1. Hotel/Venue

Are there geographical restrictions in place for the venue?

If relocating/changing dates, Does the venue have new dates available?

Is meeting space available based on social distancing guidelines?

Are sleeping rooms available?

Can the venue accommodate the new group if larger or smaller?

Can the venue accommodate additional technical requirements?

  1. Why are we having a meeting/conference/trade show?

What are the goals/expected outcomes of the events?

  1. Does the event already have risk management, insurance, and mitigation?
  2. Does the event warrant the risk management, insurance, and mitigation?
  3. Additional concerns:

Meeting Room Configurations

Food & Beverage Service

Financial Minimums / Attrition

Audio Visual Budgets

Onsite – Touching/Physical Contact (Surfaces, Materials, Giveaways, books, pens, etc.)

Attendee contact tracing

Attendee health records/temperature checks

Meeting Insurance – Take this into consideration when deciding whether to move forward or cancel your event.  If there is insurance meeting planners may be forced to wait to meet contract terms.

How you can be supportive as a Thought Leader

  • Have compassion/empathy for meeting professional/planning team
  • Have compassion/empathy for attendees
  • Ask more questions
  • Listen more
  • Collaborate with all parties
  • Be Flexible
  • Evaluate the event within the context of the greater goals of your organization/industry.

 

Resources planners are referencing:

 

Event Industry Council (EIC)

 

 https://www.eventscouncil.org/

 
Professional Conference Managers Association (PCMA)

 

 https://www.pcma.org/

 
Meeting Professionals International MPI

 

 https://www.mpi.org/

 
HSMAI

 

 https://global.hsmai.org/

 
Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) https://www.siteglobal.com/

 
National Speakers Association (NSA) https://www.nsaspeaker.org/attend/influence20/

 
IAEE https://www.iaee.com/

 
ASAE https://www.asaecenter.org/

 

 

 

Media Partners:  https://www.g2planet.com/blog/the-24-top-industry-event-publications

 

Smart Meetings https://www.smartmeetings.com/

 
Meetings Today https://www.meetingstoday.com/

 
Meetings Net https://www.meetingsnet.com/

 
Northstar Meetings https://www.northstarmeetingsgroup.com/News/Industry/Future-Meetings-Events-Industry-CEO-Predictions-Coronavirus-Impact

 

 

COVID: Specific Reports

 

Events Industry Council (global) https://insights.eventscouncil.org/Full-Article/eic-connects-covid-19-resources-for-global-members

 
US Travel Association https://www.ustravel.org/toolkit/covid-19-travel-industry-research

 
Coronavirus Recovery Resources: https://www.pcma.org/coronavirus-business-events-professionals-need-to-know-faq/?utm_medium=top-cta&utm_source=pcma_homepage&utm_campaign=covid-19

 
Novel Coronavirus Resources https://www.mpi.org/tools/coronavirus
Official Statement from IAEE https://www.iaee.com/covid19/

 
HSMAI Global Coronavirus Resources https://global.hsmai.org/insights/coronavirus-resources/

 
Meetings Mean Business https://www.ustravel.org/programs/meetings-mean-business-coalition

 

 

 

About Holly Duckworth:

 

Founder of the C-Suite Network Mindful Leadership Council the premiere community for where mindfulness and leadership connect. The council she leads creates, contributes, and advances mindful leadership as a practice in the workplace. This is an elite group of professionals dedicated to the application of what mindfulness is, and the advancement of personal and emotional support for leaders to grow the income and impact of their businesses.

 

Holly Duckworth, CAE, CMP, LSP is CEO of Leadership Solutions International, is a trailblazer transforming businesses and industries as a contributor to the New York Times, Producer/Host of the Everyday Mindfulness Show with more than 150 episodes Holly has provides training programs on applied mindful leadership around the world.  Bring Holly to your company conference or event to educate, connect or inspire.

 

Categories
Growth Leadership Operations Personal Development

Is It Time For Your Company To Write the “COVID-19” response letter, now?

Another day, another email.  Yes, an email from some well-meaning company about Coronavirus.  I’m averaging several company emails on this topic each day.  Most of them saying what has already been said.  Each organization trying to re-iterate information and protect their company from any concerns a customer may have.

It seems this virus, pandemic, disease is going to be with us for a while.  So how do you know if, or when your company should send such a letter.  Here are a few mindful considerations.

First, back up from the forest and look at the trees.  There is a deluge of information some factual others fictional circulating now. Each of these pieces of information or infotainment are seeds in our collective awareness either bringing peace or panic. Do you need to add a message to the forest or is your brand continuously delivering on a safe, healthy, brand promise that your customers would expect nothing less, therefore, making such a letter unnecessary.

Here are the questions you and your senior leadership should consider as you look at communications decisions relating to COVID-19.

  • Why do you need to connect with your customers? Have one clear intention when sending this type of mass email. If there is nothing more to say, say nothing.
  • How will the letter make your customer/reader feel about receiving the letter? Keep in mind your audience will have many varied perspectives on this topic set clear energetic tone with each word.
  • What will the letter say, that has not already been said? With your letter can you send a positive message vs. stir more uncertainty.

There is no one right or wrong answer here, and if you look at each of your personal and professional messages as seeds in the Universe. Are you continuing seeds of panic and chaos or seeds of ease and calm?  What each company thinks about we bring about. It’s time to bring more positivity to these letters to move us out of the panic.

If your organization chooses to send such a letter do the following:

  • Check, double-check and triple check the facts.
  • Cite your sources to a credible resource in the health/medical field or government agency.
  • Be personal about the letter addressing the customer by name and sign the letter by the appropriate person.

There is no doubt in a few months we will be looking back at this business situation and reflecting on lessons learned.  Don’t be a public relations casualty here advance good data, for the benefit of your customers with that personal touch authentic to your brand and your customers will reward you.

Here are a few quotes from the letters I have received and why I think they matter:

“We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of cleanliness and want you to feel at ease when you visit Hyatt hotels, knowing you’ll experience the quality you expect from the Hyatt brand.”  Mark Hoplamazian President & CEO, Hyatt Hotels

Calm customers down, assure brand loyal customers that they are on top of it.

“Rest assured, we are monitoring this developing situation closely, staying in regular contact with federal agencies, health organizations, and other experts. We’ve developed a host of resources to keep you informed and updated along the way, including our Travel Advisory on southwest.com and our Company blog, and we’ll continue to post updates as this situation evolves.”  Ryan Green
SVP & Chief Marketing Officer, Southwest Airlines

Connect customers to ongoing information from your company.

“You can expect to see staff cleaning frequently touched surfaces more often, including doorknobs, phones, handrails, and counters throughout all our facilities. Also, we will be limiting physical contact with each other and our members. Our typical greeting with a handshake will not be extended until the virus in under control, and the official recommendations are updated. Additionally, many of our members are choosing to use Digital Banking and our Call Center in place of coming into the branch. Please be aware that our hold times may be slightly longer due to the increased volume. Thank you, Credit Union of Colorado

Suggestion for alternate ways of working with the bank/financial institution many customers may not have considered.

Leading in these transformative and quickly moving times requires new levels of executive presence.  If you are exploring what is yours to do as a leadership team, contact Leadership Solutions International for highly effective mindful leadership strategies.

Mindful people: delivering powerful business results.

 

 

Categories
Growth Leadership Personal Development

3 Ways to Be A Less Stressed C-Suite Executive On Friday The 13th

Mama said there’ll be days like this
There’ll be days like this, mama said
(Mama said, mama said)
Mama said there’ll be days like this
There’ll be days like this, my mama said
(Mama said, mama said)

It was the hit song in 1961 by The Shirelles.  Looking for a sweet memory you can watch the video here.

The past few days, I wake each day to the remaining light of the Full Worm Moon and pinch myself as if to check is this “real” or a movie.  It’s real.  Evidently, we are living in a time of the global pandemic, US election, and global human quarantine. Did your mom say there would be days like this?  Mine did not.

People, it does not have to be this way.  With each sunrise and sunset, we can collectively make new choices of wellness, health, connection, kindness, and mindfulness. Focus on what we share in common not what tears us apart.

 

Three ways to be less stressed on Friday the 13th:

  1. Affirm the good. Today write yourself an affirmation and say it to yourself when the times get tough.  Affirmations are not for the self-help gurus and the people who “have time”.  Affirmations are for everyone.  Here is an example.  I am healthy and at peace.  What you think about you bring about.  When that social media post pops in with fear – say it with me.  I am healthy and at peace.
  2. Breathe and take a moment to feel that breath move through your body. The simple act of breathing and slowing the breathing can slow stress, anxiety and overwhelm.  Seeing as we are all washing our hands more now.  Take that 20 seconds while washing your hands to breathe.  Breathe and see the anxiety going down the drain.
  3. Intention – we cannot continue to use the same conscious thoughts that got us into this mess to get us out of it. Your intention is how you set your energy in motion. While we are all still unpacking the various gifts that come from Coronavirus one of them is we are all being forced to get out of our numb routines.  This is a gift.  Taking us out of overwhelming and mind-full ness to think and feel with mindfulness (presence). Each day pick one word of how you will put your energy in motion in these interesting times.  Nobody gets up each day and says, “My intention is stress today.” But in the absence of positive intention, we end up there.  Say it with me, “My intention is wellness today.” Or pick a positive intention that feels good for you. Together we can make a more positive choice, one day at a time.  Need daily help here grab a copy of my print or ebook Everyday Mindfulness From Chaos to Calm In A Crazy World as your daily intention devotion.

Is your company issuing a travel ban? Do you or your team still need to connect, brainstorm, solve problems and explore the new frontier of leading in these “interesting” times?  This eleventh week of 2020 we are living in interesting times.  In many ways, everything has changed, and nothing has changed.  We’ve always lived in uncertainty and connectedness.  We all should have been washing our hands. Do one thing today to reset your mindset to choose faith and love over fear.

Looking to join a community of mindful leaders to continue the conversation join C-Suite Network Mindful Leadership Council click here for more information.

 

Mindful People: Empowering Mindful Business

 

 

Categories
Growth Health and Wellness Management Women In Business

Kill Your “To Do” List Now

Why do you attempt to do the impossible?  How many things are on your “to do” list this week?  Ten?  Twelve? Thirty-two?

As you look at the list are you already in anticipatory fear of what you won’t complete.  Are you stressing if the things you did last we are “good enough?”  Most of us are. This fear, not being in the present moment is killing you and your ability to lead effectively.

This one simple choice, building and attempting to accomplish impossible “to do” lists is hurting your morale, engagement and money.  Make a new choice mindfully reduce your stress monotask today. Stop rewarding yourself for driving, eating, and talking on the phone at the same time.  All this adds up to mind-less-ness.

Admit it you have parked at your office then suddenly realized you do not remember leaving your driveway or any part of the drive to work?  Mindless.

Admit it you look at the clock and wonder where they day has gone with your “to do” list left unchecked.  Mindless.

This week.  Try Mindful mono-tasking.  Yes.  Mindfulness, the practice of being fully present in the moment can meet your “to do” list.  Here’s your practice:

Write a “to complete” list not a “to do” list. 

When I write a “to do” list it gets filled with every single thing I need to do this hour, day week, month, heck even year.  When the “to do” list is filled I look down and realize I’m overwhelmed and do nothing.  My head starts spinning.

A mindful “to complete” list is the 1-3 items that I will complete that day.  Nothing more, nothing less goes on the list.  I look at the list and my calendar to make sure those things are on the calendar.  Looking at this list gets my heart and purpose engaged again.

Once my “to complete list is complete, I breathe and know the things I need to do are on the list and the things not on the list are either not mine to do, or can wait. Then, as a leader, get fully in the present get to your being so the doing can get done also.

When, and only when all those things are done on your” to complete” list can you add something else to the list.

The practice of mindful “mono tasking” takes some practice. Yes I have days that things sneak back on the list, you will also.  You have to trust that the items that do not get on your ‘to complete” list will show up on the date/time that you must complete them.

Over time this activity will help you practice setting firm boundaries of what you will do and what you will not.  You may even hear yourself saying the most powerful complete sentence in our language.  No. When someone approaches you with a task that you cannot complete that day.  You will hear yourself building a more manageable life to lead and expectation for yourself and the culture of your organization.

Mindfulness is the practice of becoming fully present. When you are mindful, you can be your best in the world.  Give mono-tasking a try this week.  Let me know how this expands your good in the world.

Categories
Growth Management Personal Development Women In Business

Intentions: Your Key to Empower Mindful Leadership

Mindfulness grows as you practice in little bits each day. Just like a bodybuilder doesn’t become lean and muscular in one session, a mindful leader must continue to work on the seven practices we’re introducing in this series. This week, keep practicing your centering breath and beliefs work, we will add a new mindful practice: intention.

Intention is becoming clear about what you energetically want to have happen. I like to think of it as where your head goals meet your heart of action. For example, I intend for this experience to be educational and fun—intention adds a feeling to your goal. We live in a feeling universe, but all too often our human experience does not embrace those feelings. Mindful leaders choosing to live mindful lives make time to set powerful intentions, feelings for the life they want to live. They do this one day, one experience at a time. It’s even more critical we do this as we face the business, often mindlessness of the holiday season.

Mini-Practice As you look forward to the upcoming holiday season, pick one event and ask yourself, what is the intention for this? How do you want to show up energetically to that event? Office parties be a good one to try intention setting. Maybe the family holiday meal? What do you want to have happen or to feel as a result of the experience? What do you intend for this holiday season? The words above can help you get started.

The practice of setting intentions will help you align your goals with your feelings and to those of the universe around you. And you may be surprised how often you get what you intend.

AFFIRMATION:  I intend to experience ease in all I do this holiday season. I release stress and receive mindfulness.  

 

Mindfulness matters, HD

Holly Duckworth, CAE, CMP, LSP, is a nationally recognized speaker, author, and coach for mindful leadership. I work with stressed-out leaders to create profits, peace, and presence.

Categories
Growth Health and Wellness Management Women In Business

Mindful Leadership – Be Alive With What You Believe

If mindlessness is being asleep at the wheel of life, mindfulness is becoming more awake and aware of your beliefs—as media mogul Oprah Winfrey says, “What I know for sure.” What do you know for sure?

Your mindful practice for today is to push away from your desk for just two to five minutes—yes, you can set your phone timer.

Use that time to ask your inner self what is it you believe about the way you are running your life. What is it you believe about the way you are running your business?

Breathe, pause, breathe again.

Don’t panic! You don’t have to tell anyone, and there are no right or wrong answers.

The answers are found in mindful breathing.

What you believe tends to be what manifests in your life. If you believe life is a challenge, you get more challenges. If you believe it’s supportive and easy, you get more ease.

This week, spend those few minutes a day thinking about what you want to believe about an experience you are having. Feel in your body what you want to believe. Your feelings are your power center.  Believe in the power of you!

AFFIRMATION:  My beliefs empower the life I want to live. 

Mindfulness matters!

Categories
Growth Health and Wellness Management Women In Business

Where to Begin Mindful Leadership? Centering

Our world is overwhelming. This is the third week of the last fifteen that a major shooting has been in the news as I write.

Our fear of being alone, or missing out on something important makes us feel we need to sift through the constant, unprecedented deluge of information coming at us, even though we know most of it is just noise. We have less recovery time between events, and we’re getting less of the sleep we need to rejuvenate. It’s unsustainable, it’s exhausting, and it leads to a mindlessness that takes a toll on our personal and professional lives.

Enter mindfulness.

Mindfulness is the practice of becoming fully present in the moment. It is often confused with meditation. While meditation is one form of mindfulness practice, it’s not the only one. In today’s 24/7/365 world where stress is rampant, mindfulness has been scientifically proven to reduce stress, decrease health challenges, and increase focus, resulting in a better quality of home and work life.

Mindfulness has seven practices. I’m going to guide you thru these steps. I intend this series will educate, connect, and hopefully inspire you to try each of the seven for just two to five minutes on the next seven posts—and all week long.

Week 1 Mini-Practice: Centering
Centering is practicing the process of reconnecting to the still, small voice inside of you. Centering in partnership with breathing and small hand motions will bring you back to you.

Today, push yourself away from your desk for just two minutes.  Yes, you can set a timer if it reduces your stress. Feel your breath enter through your nose and move through to your heart center, then exhale through your mouth. Do this three times. When was the last time you took a mindful breath?

Next time you are heading to a conversation that may be less than mindful, try centering. This practice, while simple, is not easy.  The more you try it this week, the more you are likely to let go of mindless and become more mindful.

Mindful Matters!

 

 

Categories
Growth Health and Wellness Management Women In Business

What is Mindfulness?

What is Mindfulness?

We live in world that demands our immediate attention 24/7/365.  We have created a culture that rewards busy, but also punishes it with poor health, stress, often relationship crisis and often-mental fatigue.  As the world seems to speed up year over year many professionals are opting for a different way – mindfulness

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the process of bringing your whole self, body, brain and spirit, awareness to the present moment.  It is taking moment to pause and calmly acknowledge how you are feeling and thinking in the present moment.

Mindfulness is not simply meditation.  It’s a way of being and a choice on your leading and living.

Mindfulness was named one of the 2018 business trends. There are seven practices to become a mindful CEO running a more peaceful, presence filled, and profitable company. I’ll share with you the strategies and research behind the companies applying mindfulness in the next 7 weeks.