Well, not always. Sometime we do say the wrong words, but we aways provide the body language and facial expressions that convey our real meaning. And often we are not aware, or choose not to think about it. Not enough time, low priority. Thus we acquire and entrench some bad habits that diminish our impact in meetings and on teams. Our personal brand gets fixed with some unpleasant impressions.

In mindful communication, we know when we are in the moment, we're actually there with the other person: very key for a leader in a 1-1 meeting with a team member. These are exactly the moments that define our leadership quality. A few minutes being there, listening, with an open mind, willing to learn, can turn a stressful discussion into one that fosters collaboration and progress. And yes, practice is the goal, not perfection.

In The Mindful Leader, Michael Carroll observes, “The wisdom of seeing is our ability to glimpse reality. Because we are first open to our experience rather than obsessed with imposing our opinions, we bring a fresh and unbiased mind to whatever occurs.” And we build trust. Carroll encourages quieting our minds in reflection, regularly, so that we know when we are really here.