In organisations, speed is often celebrated, presence less so. Yet it is presence that makes speed intelligent. In individual and team coaching, I observe that full awareness is not a spiritual luxury: it's a spiritual strategic advantage. It allows you to see more clearly, to really listen, to make the right decisions - especially when the complexity mounts. My guiding principle remains the same: aligning head, heart and action so that leadership gains in density without losing in humanity.
Why mindfulness changes leadership
Mindfulness causes attention to return here and now, instead of drifting into autopilot. This simple return has three major effects when you're in a leadership position. Firstly, the clarity We can better distinguish between the fact, the interpretation and the emotion that colours the judgement. Then the emotional stability Instead of being swept away by fear, anger or impatience, we can be more proactive. go to and choose. Finally the quality of the link Full presence makes conversations safer, decisions more shared and execution smoother.
What this means in practical terms for decision-making
Deciding differently means slowing down at the right time to accelerate in the right place. A minute's presence before an important arbitration is often enough to bring out the option that no-one dared to name - or to confirm that it's time to say no. In a tense meeting, thirty seconds of landing reduces defences and rekindles listening. In a 1:1 meeting, ten seconds of silence after a key phrase allows the other person to find a solution. its words rather than using your own. Mindfulness puts rhythm listening, discernment, decision-making, commitment.
Express practices for executives in a hurry
The key is not the duration, it's the regularity. Three micro-practices that can be incorporated into any day, without the need for any special equipment or posture. 1) STOP (30 to 60 s) : S = Stop, T = Find breath, O = Observe (body, emotions, thought), P = Continue differently (a simple choice). To be used before a difficult call or a hot decision. 2) 3×3 (45 secs): three slow breaths, then three quick checks - what's done, what's true, what's useful now. Ideal between meetings. 3) Anchoring 5-4-3-2-1 (60 secs): name 5 things seen, 4 things heard, 3 body sensations, 2 smells/tastes, 1 intention. Resets attention and reduces internal noise.
Dealing with strong emotions without spilling the beans: the operational version of RAIN
When the emotional charge rises, I suggest RAIN in 2 minutes. R = Recognize Name the emotion («irritated», «worried»). A = Allow Accept that it's there for a few moments without pushing it away or acting on it. I = Investigate where it's lodged in the body, what I need now (information, delay, support). N = Nurture/Non-identification I am not emotion, I the crossbar. Only then do we talk, decide and write. This micro-practice avoids regrettable e-mails and meetings that get out of hand.
Shorter, truer meetings: landing and exit protocol
At the beginning : 30 seconds of presence («arrive, take three breaths, make yourself available»), then a guided opening tour in one sentence What's alive for me on the subject. In the middle: 30-second pause if the discussion gets heated (silence + refocus on the fact/need/decision). At the end: membership minute where everyone writes down their commitment (who/what/when) and checks the dependencies. This simple protocol reduces the overall length of meetings and increases execution.
Decide differently: slow window / fast window
Not everything requires 1 hour of meditation. I suggest a dual mode simple. Quick window (≤ 2 min): STOP + options in 3 columns (gains/risks/next step), «testable in 7 days» decision. Slow window (10-20 min): 60 second silence, clarification round, impact card, decision with dated conditions for revision. Mindfulness is used here as a a safeguard against haste and thruster for action.
Mental charge and energy: three lasting rituals
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Calendar buffers 10 minutes between two meetings to surface (breathe, take note, decide on the next micro-action). 2) Revue hebdo consciente (20 min): look back over the week with three questions - what gave me energy, what took it away, what am I stopping/continuing/starting. 3) Careful walking (5-10 min): between two blocks, walk without a phone, synchronise breathing and steps. These rituals prevent exhaustion and maintain the quality of attention.
Simple indicators for objective benefits
Average length of meetings (target -15 %), percentage of decisions recorded and implemented, cycle time for a key request, number of relational incidents resolved at the right level in less than a week, score of psychological safety (pulse in 3 questions), perception of clarity in the team. What we measure improves ; what we're celebrating is anchored.
30-day training plan
Week 1: practice STOP twice a day + 30 sec landing at the start of the meeting. Week 2: introducing RAIN strong emotions and the membership minute at the end of the meeting. Week 3: testing the dual mode decision (fast vs. slow window) on two real subjects. Week 4: hold a revue hebdo consciente and choose a ritual that will last (opening silence, buffers, walking). The objective is not perfection, but the constance.
Frequent pitfalls (and how to overcome them)
«We don't have time»: start with 30 seconds, no more. «It feels strange»: say it simply («it's new, we're trying it out, we'll adjust»). «We confuse silence with control»: banish the punitive use of silence; remind people that it serves the purpose of control. quality of the link and the lucidity of the decision. «It just doesn't add up»: linking each practice to a existing ritual (starting a meeting, going through a door, before writing a sensitive email).
Conclusion
Mindfulness isn't just a break in the schedule: it's a way of life. quality of presence that you bring to everything you do. It makes you clearer, more stable and more powerful. Deciding differently isn't about deciding more slowly; it's about deciding better. more accurately - at the right time, for the right reasons, with people who really feel involved. If you had to keep just one thing from tomorrow : 30 seconds of presence before each important decision. It's short, it's free, and it often changes everything.
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