Leadership in the Moment

Posted by Nicki Peasley Share Your Voice

I am the leader of a very important Fortune Priceless company—my family. I am highly successful at what I do and I have the mother’s day cards to prove it. With the unyielding support of my husband and chief financial officer, I run a company whose mission it is to foster the growth of three courageous and compassionate future leaders of the world. 

I used to think my company’s success was due to my mastery of multitasking.   With a baby on my hip, I could  potty train a 2 year old, help a 5 year old learn to tie her shoes, vacuum the living room, whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies for the PTA  fundraiser, pay the cable bill on line, and make babysitting arrangements for a much needed date night.  And I could do all of this within a 30 minute time span.  I was an efficient machine and my friends would marvel, “How do you do it all?”

However, as my children have gotten older (and I have more time to breathe), I realize that our cultural esteem for the art of multi-tasking is leading to the demise of human presence.  Far more important than the number of items checked off my to-do list is the way in which I fully live in and embrace each moment of my day.  Knowing when to pause and really listen to one of “my people” is essential to the bottom line of my company’s success.  Being truly present in mind, heart, body, and spirit, is the mark of a true leader.

Just as I am embracing this new wisdom of being, I recognize that I am accountable for my company’s adoption of my old multi-doing philosophy.  On our way home from a special weekend outing, it’s “Where are we going next, Mom?” When we are eating lunch, I hear, “What’s for dinner, Mom?”  And every night as I’m all wrapped up in the moment of the good-night snuggle, in my ear is whispered, “What are we doing tomorrow, Mom?”

Yes, I created this monster and, as the leader of this company, it’s up to me to slay it. My challenge is to balance my company’s efficiency with individual mindfulness.  .  I am a realist—a daily meditation hour will never be a part of my company’s operation.  But I’ve learned that the quickest and easiest route back to the present moment is through the breath.  And we can access and attend to our breath anywhere and anytime—on the soccer field, in the grocery store, at the PTA meeting.

Thich Nhat Hahn, mystic, scholar, and one of my most beloved teachers, offers this simple 6 word meditation that even my 6 year old has embraced.

Breathing in, “Calming.”

Breathing out, “Smiling.”

Breathing in, “Present moment.”

Breathing out, “Wonderful moment.”

I invite you to enter the world of presence through this beautiful exercise.   Leadership begins in this moment.   

⇐ Previous Post: Leadership in the Moment Next Post: Going Above and Beyond ⇒

Nicki Peasley I am the CEO of my home, managing a team consisting of a 40 year old, an 11 year old, an 8 year old, and a 6 year old. In my spare time, I am the YOUth development director for Bounce, writing curriculums and working (playing and learning) with elementary and middle school youth.