Successfully leading change requires resilience, and the ability to manage our own stress is a big factor.
Did you know that when we are under stress, our brains react predictably? Studies in neuroscience have shown that any perceived threat or danger activates an unconscious body-brain response based on fear, upset, grief, or other such emotions.
In his article “Resilience for the Rest of Us,” Daniel Goleman, a recognized expert in emotional intelligence, says neuroscience has found that distress causes heightened activity on the right side of the brain’s prefrontal area. Each of us has a characteristic level of left/right activity— if we’re tilted to the right, there more upsets; if to the left, quicker recovery from distress of all kinds.
The good news is that we can retrain our brains to shift to the left, and react in new patterns that promote resilience to change. By using mindfulness techniques, we can teach the brain to register anything happening in the present moment with full focus — but without reacting.
Try this simple mindfulness method offered by Goleman as a mental exercise:
- Find a quiet, private place where you can’t be distracted for a few minutes — for instance, close your office door and mute your phone.
- Sit comfortably, with your back straight but relaxed.
- Focus your awareness on your breath, staying attentive to the sensations of the inhalation and exhalation, and start again on the next breath.
- Do not judge your breathing or try to change it in any way.
- See anything else that comes to mind as a distraction — thoughts, sounds, whatever — let them go and return your attention to your breath.
I practice mindfulness daily and prescribe it to clients as they address change and chaos. With mindful leadership, you can become more resilient and better equipped to drive positive change for your organization.
