“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment”
–Henry David Thoreau
One of the great challenges in leadership today is having leaders who are present in the moment. It’s a struggle for many leaders. In fact, when was the last time with intentionality you set aside even a small amount of time just appreciate the moment and reflect?
Healthy leadership is essential to your success. But what happens when the pace of your leadership is greater than your ability to be present in the moment? What is the tipping point between activity and action that does more harm than good? Why does being present matter? Here are a few reasons why being present matters to your leadership.
You can put your past in perspective
In order to effectively know where you are and where you are going, it helps to put your past in perspective. What knowledge and skills have you picked up along the way is working? What do you need to let go of? What changes do you need to make today to make for a better tomorrow?
Only being present in the moment allows you the opportunity to reflect in such a way as to appreciate the moment and put your past in perspective.
You can put your priorities in order
It’s when you are present in the moment that you can evaluate your priorities and put them in order.No leader intentionally sets out to mess up their priorities but it happens. Being present in the moment is as much of a priority for you as a leader as anything else you do. If your priorities are out of balance then the decisions you make will have consequences you hadn’t planned for.
Only being present in the moment can you see what corrections you need to make with your priorities. It’s when you are present you can make adjustments.
You can reconnect with your people
A leader not present in the moment is not the leader his or her people need. The unintended consequences can be irreparable if not careful. The graph below highlights the communication issues employees have with their leaders. Take a look at how many complaints there are on the list that could be avoided if only the leader were present in the moment among his or her people.
You can lead more effectively
Ultimately, being present in the moment is about more effective leadership. It’s about giving of yourself without all the distractions that come with priorities that are out-of-order and by being disconnected from your people.
Being present in the moment can be a challenge. Our minds are racing and thinking of a dozen other things that need our time and attention. I get it. But all you have is this moment. And in this moment, you can do something that will impact your leadership in a positive way. Be present.
In the old days, a leader was a leader when they could immediately connect the current conversation into how it impacted the bigger picture; that this leader could think several steps beyond what was being talked about. Today, that is what I consider being present in the moment. The challenge is not may leaders are able to think this way.
Such a good point, Chris, thank you!