Letting go is a mindfulness attitude. It's a foundational mindfulness and meditation practice, and we can practice it in many ways.
Kelly is a brilliant and dedicated senior sales director with a winning team. She works for a startup in the cyberspace industry that has been growing by 30% for the last two years. The results she and her team achieve are a big part of this metric.
Kelly’s ascent up the corporate ladder is evidence of her dedication and insight. Yet, Kelly struggled with one issue–she jumps headfirst into most conversations. She has been doing this for years, yet as she embraced a more senior role, she realized that the leadership style that once defined her was now her biggest challenge.
Why Change Now?
Kelly is energetic, intelligent, confident, and cares for her team. She voices her opinion and doesn’t hold back. She WAS always appreciated for her insight and valuable contributions.
Why do I say “WAS?”
Kelly has reached a more senior role yet is still the first to jump into every conversation. She knows she should make space for others. But she finds it hard not to go first; this has contributed to her being seen and her success.
Kelly’s colleagues have given her feedback about her dominant, outspoken, always-first behavior, and she appreciates their feedback. Yet, she can’t switch it off. Kelly is ready to learn the art of letting go.
The Art of Letting Go
Kelly is ready for a change in her leadership style. She knows what she wants: to become more strategic in her leadership. She wants to hold back and not be the first to speak in these meetings, making space for others to speak first. But Kelly has to learn how to let go of a pattern that once served her well. She has to mature and become the leader she is meant to be.
Kelly first needs to understand why she feels the need to speak. This is what we worked on in our coaching sessions. Through mindfulness coaching, we were able to build her awareness of her urge to speak first so she could overcome it. Kelly is learning that she can talk a little later and that her leadership and influence will not be diminished.
Letting go of what no longer serves us is not easy. As Warren Buffet said, “The chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.”
To reach her full potential as a leader, Kelly must learn to let go of what no longer serves her.
Mindfulness in Leadership
Because I am a mindfulness coach, I practice letting go with my clients. Why?
Letting go is a mindfulness attitude. It’s a foundational mindfulness and meditation practice, and we can practice it in many ways.
As humans, we are not very good at letting go. In psychology, we talk about attachment, especially relationship attachments that begin at birth and develop as we mature. According to Psychology Today, letting go involves releasing attachments to past experiences, identities, or narratives that no longer serve us. In Kelly’s case, it’s a belief that she must jump in first to demonstrate her knowledge to be valued.
When we talk about the art of letting go, we’re not talking about ignoring your feelings or denying reality. Letting go is about going deep inside, tapping into the source of the behavior, and choosing to respond differently. It’s about recognizing when a different path may lead to a better outcome for you and those around you.
Letting go makes room for new habits and opportunities that serve us well.
Empowerment Through Silence
I recommend Scott Elbin‘s The Next Level to clients. It is a helpful guide for leaders looking to move up. Elbin discusses the importance of giving your peers or team members air time. When everyone feels they have the opportunity to have their voice heard, they feel empowered and valued. This is your most important gift to your team or cohorts.
Elbin also emphasizes that it’s better to choose effectiveness over being right. Sometimes, the need to speak first or dominate a conversation stems from our need to be right, to have the right answer, and to be respected and valued for our wisdom.
But this need comes from the wrong place.
Elbin says we must step out of the “I’m right syndrome” and build consensus with our team members. Rather than wasting time proving our brilliance, shine the spotlight on the brilliance of our peers and team members.
Your Journey to Mindful Leadership
Kelly’s story powerfully reminds us that growth usually requires us to let go of patterns that once defined us. Through mindfulness, you can explore the behaviors or habits holding you back from reaching your full leadership potential. You will be empowered to improve team dynamics by promoting trust, collaboration, and open communication. You’ll foster an ecosystem where team members feel empowered to take initiative, make decisions, and contribute creatively.
Ready To Begin?
Contact me today for a consultation, and let’s embark on your journey of letting go and stepping into calmness.
Samantha Amit – Leadership Coach and Mindfulness Practitioner
Samantha helps managers be more present, more confident and to focus on what and who is important, to excel and thrive at work and life.
Inspiring managers to grow and together make a global impact.
Transforming people and companies for the future.
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