Insight Igniter Issue 8: The Importance of Mindfulness in Executive Coaching: Insights from Golf and Everyday Practice
Hello Igniters!
Over the last month I have found myself enthralled with the concept and practice of mindfulness, in both my coaching practice and my golf game. I define mindfulness as an active state of being “wide open” to the present. The practice of mindfulness has emerged as a vital tool for achieving peak performance and fostering resilience in the boardroom, on the golf course and in life. In this issue of the Insight Igniter, I explore how mindfulness requires a blend of technical skill, strategic thinking, and emotional regulation.
Thank you to friends of Ignite Performance Coaching, Diane Lloyd of Inspired Results Group and Ryan Borg - PGA of Canada Teaching Professional, for providing the space to explore and apply my new thinking.
The Insight Igniter coaching question for May 20, 2024:
"What would being more mindful mean to you?"
Technical Skill
Mindfulness is a disciplined practice that requires regular intentional practice and adherence to techniques that enhance one's ability to remain present. After hitting a terrible drive on the 6th hole at Lakeview golf course Ryan asked me “What were you thinking about on that last shot?” - “Not taking the club inside” I replied. “What would be different if I asked you to focus on just making a positive swing every shot?” Ryan asked. I paused, and smiled as I realized my focus was on a microscopic subset of the moment that truly mattered. The average golf swing in its entirety takes only 1.2 seconds. The lesson here is how the of power of a single complete thought in the moment enables you to engage your senses, stay present and avoid overthinking. Finding the right mindset, regardless of the outcome in the corporate world, enables executives to stay present allowing for thoughtful decisions to be made resulting in a higher probability of positive business outcomes.
Strategic thinking
Last Friday I participated in a peer coaching event hosted by Diane Lloyd of Inspired Results Group. During that session I had the opportunity to explore how to further apply mindfulness in my coaching practice. The primary takeaway from that conversation was the importance of creating transparency with oneself, thought reducing biases and avoiding the automatic reactions. As we become increasingly mindful, we enhance our cognitive flexibility, essential when engaging in long-term planning, critical analysis, and decision-making. A mindful leader shifts thinking to considers multiple perspectives and adapts plans based on new data, to ultimately realize positive outcomes.
Emotional Regulation
Having a bad round in golf may boil up similar emotions to having completed a round of layoffs. If we find ourselves dwelling on these emotions, we decrease the probability of having positive future outcomes. A mindful executive or golfer cultivates heightened self-awareness, calling out their emotions as they arise. This awareness is crucial for emotional regulation because it helps individuals identify, understand and action their emotional state before they become overwhelmed. The common practice of talking to yourself is a mindful practice that encourages emotional regulation. When was the last time you had an honest conversation with yourself? What did you uncover? Golfers and executives benefit from the ability to remain calm, centered, and focused on the task at hand, leading to more balanced and thoughtful reactions.
Be it in business, the golf course, or in the pursuit of a life fully experienced, these activities demand a high level of concentration. Mindfulness through emotional regulation, strategic thinking and technical skill can lead to being increasingly calm under pressure, resiliency to bounce back from setbacks and thoughtful adaptive strategies, ultimately driving better organizational outcomes and lower golf scores.
Until next issue.
Best,
Stefan