Archive for June, 2011

First deliberate practice of the day – meditation

There’s no doubt most participants in our executive coaching and business coaching programs are feeling incredibly challenged to keep up with all that’s coming at them.  They have hundreds of e-mails each day, new competitive and economic threats, and the ever joyful demands of keeping employees happy, focused and productive!  Welcome to leadership 2011.

One particular client have been working with for the past two years has been slugging it out trying to bring his company back to strong vibrant health.  It hasn’t been easy.

Recently he started showing up with a new sense of calmness and peacefulness.  I figured he broke down and began seeing a psychiatrist and getting antidepressant medication— who would’ve blamed him?

As it turned out he came upon the book Conquest of Mind by Eknath Easwaran and had begun a very serious and dedicated practice of morning meditation.  The differences in him were startling.

Instinctually when there’s so much coming at you it seems like the smart thing to do is to work harder and faster.  That’s not always the right answer.

When I asked the client about his new found calmness he said the morning meditation was really giving him a feeling of “groundedness” and stability as he faced the day’s challenges.

So I went ahead and purchased the book and followed the author’s formula. I found it to be one of the most simple, straightforward resources to either refine your meditation practice or begin your meditation practice.

Remember the old saying –  The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.

Tomorrow morning instead of diving into your e-mail, why don’t you try taking 15 to 30 minutes of meditation and see if you achieve the same result?  I think you’ll find with a clearer calmer mind you and your team will produce better business results and find a sense of joy in this tumultuous business world.

  • Posted by Coach Pete
  • Monday, June 20th, 2011
  • Comments Off on First deliberate practice of the day – meditation

Mehmet + Instanbul = Amazing!

Executive coaching is about helping business leaders see from a different perspective.  It reminds me a little bit of my tour guide Mehmet last month in Istanbul.

We were walking along the gardens between Topkapi Palacein the Blue Mosque and Mehmet told me to stop and turn around.  We had the most spectacular view of historic Istanbul overlooking the Bosphorus Strait.

It reminded me a little bit of the coaching journey I take with executives and family businessowners.  Like Mehmet I have been on many tours and usually know just the right place to ask people to stop and take a look.  Without him I would’ve walked right by that spot and missed an important vantage point.

I know it’s human nature to think we can figure it out ourselves, and many times we can.  But having Mehmet along made the process go simpler, quicker and more enjoyable.  I could have wandered around and seen many sites, but his expertise made the journey so much more fruitful.

And again like coaching, he turned me back out on my own in the city the second day but because of his guidance and experience, I was able to navigate with more confidence and ease.

I think I’m a tour guide for helping executives and family businesses have a more profitable and enjoyable journey.

 Thanks Mehmet!