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In the fast-paced world of management, the ability to chair and navigate productive team discussions is an essential skill for the successful leader.
It's not really about subject matter expertise, or the ability to talk with clarity (although both are useful in their own right). The reality is that there's a 'sub-layer' of additional skills that really elevate your ability to lead teams through productive debate to a positive outcome.
Let's take a look...
The Foundation
Let's begin by revisiting three foundational qualities essential for any leader:
Patience: This isn't about 'waiting' - it's more about thoughtful endurance. During team discussions, patience allows you (the leader) to take the time to hear and consider everyone's viewpoint, fostering an inclusive atmosphere that respects diverse opinions and encourages open communication.
Active Listening: Do you truly listen during a team discussion, or do you spend time thinking about what you want to say next?
Active Listening is about engaging fully with whoever is speaking, absorbing the full message, including the emotional undertones and non-verbal cues - which are often as important as the words themselves!
Beginner's Mind: Borrowed from Zen philosophy, this concept encourages leaders to approach each discussion with an open mind and without preconceived notions. It opens us up to innovative ideas from all team members, regardless of where they sit in the organisational hierarchy and the type of contribution they've made in the past.
So considering these foundational qualities, let's take a look now at how mindfulness and meditation can help the effective leader build additional skills that are essential for effective team discussion.
Beyond the Basics
Emotional Regulation
Sometimes, effective debate within teams can result in tension as people with differing opinions compete for air-time and try to persuade others.
Mindfulness helps equip leaders with the ability to control their reactions to emotionally charged situations. By recognizing their own emotional responses, leaders can choose how to respond - rather than react - maintaining a calm environment that provides others with the space to discuss.
Empathy
Practising mindfulness enhances empathy, allowing leaders to better understand and connect with team members' feelings and perspectives. This understanding can help to bridge gaps between different viewpoints, creating a way to build consensus.
Clarity of Thought
Regular meditation can support clearer thinking by reducing the background noise of unnecessary thoughts that can often plague our day ("what did he/she think of that?", "did I get that right?").
Clarity is essential during the debate of complex problems and ideas, where solutions need to be articulated in a way that's easy to consume and understand.
Resilience
Mindfulness builds resilience. This helps you - the leader - to better navigate setbacks. In the context of team discussion, a resilient leader is able to sustain constructive dialogue and moving forward collaboratively.....even when ideas clash or are initially ill-received.
Decision Making
Mindfulness sharpens decision-making skills by improving your ability to assess situations calmly. As team discussions reach the point where conclusions need to be reached and next steps need to be agreed, effective decision-making helps you to effectively and calmly choose a path that aligns with the team’s objectives.
Incorporating Mindfulness into Your Leadership
Adopting a regular routine of mindfulness and meditation practice isn't just beneficial for personal wellbeing; it also enhances your capability as a leader.
By developing the skills we've outlined above, leaders can ensure that their team discussions are more productive, leading to the discovery of the best ideas - moving both projects and people forward.