VIM Executive Coaching is a strong proponent of the value of meditation. We believe that daily meditation leads to greater mindfulness, and that it helps to center executive leaders and encourages authenticity and empathy.
That said, it is often hilarious when we hear some of the reasons for resistance to meditation. Over the years, we have heard the following comments among many others:
- “You’re not going to make me cluck like a chicken, are you?” That’s hypnosis.
- “Sorry, but I’m a practicing…” Meditation has nothing to do with religion.
- “Should I speak to our corporate counsel first?” Would she also like to meditate?
- “I don’t have the time.” Didn’t you say you watched four football games yesterday?
- “I have arthritis.” We’re sorry but you seem to be sitting just fine right now.
Meditation is not a loss of control, but gaining control. Virtually every religion in the world is meditative to some extent. It is why so many faiths encourage retreats. Meditation it not medication; it does not make executive leaders divulge secrets! Meditation can be beneficial as little as 10 to 15 minutes a day; about the length of time between first and second downs! Meditation is not yoga; calming and focusing does not require twisting one’s body into a pretzel. However, it does help in untwisting our minds.
Why the Fear?
There are literally dozens of excellent books, general and medical, written on the power of meditation. It is quite remarkable. From lowered blood pressure to better sleep to a reduction in depression, the positive effects of meditation have been well documented. This is not business coaching mumbo-jumbo, but rock-solid scientific research.
We are not dispensing medical advice here, only pointing out that in some cases, patients who routinely meditate have been known to give up or reduce hypertension, anti-depressant or sleeping aide drugs. The benefits of meditation are far too numerous to expand on here.
Why then, the fear that many executives echo when they are presented with the idea of learning to meditate as an off-shoot of mindfulness it scares them? Is it the fear of the loss of control, the fear of becoming “too soft,” or could it be the fear of wasting too much time in irrelevant pursuits?
Our belief is that mindfulness meditation is the gateway to change, and simply put, change brought about by greater mindfulness terrifies many executive leaders.
Leadership “change” can be frightening; it frightens us in terms of “What will we do now?” or “What will others think of us?”
However, is being more mindful something to fear or something to embrace? For any executive leader, change leading to greater mindfulness has never failed to bring about successful results.
Who Are We Underneath?
The most mindful executives we have coached at VIM Executive Coaching know themselves and beyond that, better know the dynamics of their organizations and their subordinates. The most mindful executives are typically the most authentic and in-the-moment.
If the executives we are, authentically match the mindful executives we want to be, the outcomes in terms of our ability to lead, are dramatic. Being mindful doesn’t mean a personality change, it means that we are closer to whom we are naturally as leaders and people. There is nothing to fear for any of us if we are able to get closer to what makes us special and human.
The truth is, we all have time to meditate. If we want to take the time to be more effective as leaders and more open to change and authenticity, mindfulness meditation is a tool that can help us achieve that outcome.