Why Mindfulness Matters for Business Leaders (And It's Not What You Think)
By Debra Mitchell, Founder of Inspired Consulting Solutions and Creator of KindShift
When I tell people I'm a certified mindfulness mentor who teaches leaders, I can see the assumptions forming.
They picture me on a meditation cushion. Candles. Incense. Maybe some chanting.
Then I tell them I spent two decades leading change in corporate environments. That I've helped thousands of people adopt new systems. That I've built frameworks for how billion-dollar organizations make decisions.
The confusion on their faces tells me everything: most people think mindfulness is something you do alone, eyes closed, waiting for enlightenment.
Here's what it actually is: being present in the moment.
Eyes open or closed. Sitting or moving. In a meeting or walking to your car. Mindfulness isn't something you do before work. It's something you bring into your work.
And here's what most people miss: Mindfulness isn't just about managing yourself. It's about creating space for other people.
When Presence Becomes Connection
One of my clients works with a VP of Development who gets this.
There was a particularly hard week. A lot is happening in the world. A lot is happening in the organization. The kind of week where everyone shows up carrying weight they don't talk about.
Instead of jumping straight into the agenda, he paused. He said, "This week is tough. Let's just take time to share how we're feeling and how we're doing."
That's it. Not a team-building exercise. Not a forced vulnerability session. Just space.
My client described it as a wonderful moment of connection. The kind that reminds you that you're working with humans, not just colleagues.
That pause, that willingness to acknowledge what's true before moving to what's next, that's mindfulness. And it didn't just help him. It created a sense of safety for everyone in the room.
How I Actually Use It
I don't excuse myself from tense meetings to meditate. I practice mindfulness in the middle of those meetings.
The 3-breath reset: Three slow breaths that I can take anytime, anywhere. No one but me knows I'm doing it. It brings me back to the present instead of catastrophizing about what might happen.
The curiosity question: When I catch myself making assumptions, I ask: "What else could be true?" This interrupts my certainty and creates space for other perspectives.
Active listening: I focus completely on what the other person is sharing. Not on what I'm going to say next. Just listening.
The intentional pause: Rather than rushing to fill silence, I pause. I collect my thoughts. I speak with intention, not just reaction.
None of this requires an app. None of it looks "spiritual." All of it makes me more effective.
The One Practice That Changes Everything
If I could teach you only one thing, it would be this: Learn to pause.
We don't need to fill every silence. We don't need to respond immediately. We don't need to have an answer ready before the question finishes.
The pause is the space between "what just happened" and "what I do about it." That space is where you get to choose. Without it, you're just running on autopilot, reacting from old patterns and protective instincts.
With the pause, you're actually leading.
Why This Matters for Women Entrepreneurs
If you're building a business, you're navigating relationships constantly.
Clients who need to reschedule again. Team members who are struggling with something they won't name. Partners whose communication style is nothing like yours. Your own inner voice is questioning whether you're doing enough.
The conventional advice says: work harder, move faster, optimize everything.
Mindfulness says: slow down to show up.
When you're present, you hear what people aren't saying. When you pause, you create space for truth. When you notice your assumptions, you stop damaging relationships that don't need to be damaged.
This isn't about being zen. It's about being relational.
The strongest businesses aren't built on efficiency alone. They're built on trust. And trust requires presence.
Where to Start
You don't need a meditation cushion. You don't need an app. You don't need to wake up at 5 AM to sit in silence.
You just need to practice being present.
For yourself:
Right now, take three slow breaths. Notice what you're feeling. Don't try to change it. Just notice.
Before you react to the next stressful email, pause. Take one breath. Then decide how you want to respond.
For your relationships:
In your next conversation, just listen. Don't plan your response. Just be there.
Before your next team meeting, ask yourself: "What might people be carrying that I can't see?"
When someone shares something hard, resist the urge to fix it. Just say: "Tell me more."
That's mindfulness. Not mystical. Not unattainable. Not requiring hours of practice before it "works."
Just present. Just here. Just now.
And for leaders trying to build something that matters, that presence changes everything—for you and for the people counting on you.
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Debra Mitchell helps leaders build trust in the moments that matter most. Through her KindShift methodology, she teaches entrepreneurs to lead with courageous kindness instead of running on autopilot.
You can learn more at kindshift.us
Connect on LinkedIn @mitchelldebra