Yoga and meditation may not be the first thing that will come to mind when you imagine ways to become a good leader. One may think that these practices are not utilized in relating to other people; instead, they are used for purely personal relaxation and inner reflection. However, yoga and meditation were found out to be a beneficial practice especially in terms of relating with others; thus, it can be both useful in attaining personal needs and enhancing one’s abilities as an effective leader. As Dana Anderson, LPC, wrote in her article, “Mindfulness helps people develop the capacity to handle what life throws at them and creates emotional resilience.”
The following are the reasons why yoga and meditation can help develop excellent leadership skills.
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Greater Effectiveness As A Result Of Reduced Stress
Stress makes the team less productive and similarly, will have the same effect on top management. If you are pressured into the workplace, then you may not be efficient enough to think efficiently about different work situations, and it may affect the whole team’s performance. To help you feel calmer, more relaxed and more focused on the things to do, then yoga and meditation are the best answers to relieve stress. It is more effective if done regularly. According to Bo Forbes, PsyD, “Even a 10-minute daily yoga practice increases stress resilience, and contemplative, relaxation-based practices such as restorative yoga help reduce anxiety and fearfulness.”
Practicing yoga, meditation, or both can assist in becoming relatable to the team and other people around you, and it will dissolve the negative impact of stress.
Opens Up Your Thinking
Sometimes, people tend to fixate on a particular problem that seems unsolvable and unmanageable even though the conflict, in essence, is quite simple. It is easy to lose creativity when getting caught up in the mundane of everyday office routine. By a relaxing yoga exercise or meditation on break time, the mind and body can feel centered and rejuvenated amidst the chaos resulting in better decision making and overall positive outlook and moods.
“Yoga therapy can help heal, enhance overall well-being, and bring a sense of acceptance, calm, and joy back into your life.” – Julianne Schroeder, LPC.
Improved Health
Yoga has physical and mental benefits to one’s health. Yoga can make you calmer, more relaxed, and more flexible and increase physical strength. Gradually, it may increase the range of motion all over various parts of the body. Despite the numerous benefits of yoga, injury can also occur, lessen the chances of such untoward events by opting to practice under a certified yoga instructor.
Learn The Different Options To Practice
Yoga instructors often give directives that can be modified according to the needs or the capability of a person. Leaders can get a valuable lesson from it – which only a few people in your team can do all types of jobs. Everyone has its personality, skills, and needs that you as the leader needs to address and manage equally. Leaders must be flexible in communicating with the members and use each other’s strengths properly.
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There is no fixed time to do yoga and meditation. It is up to you to decide what suits you best according to the preferred schedule. You can have it in the morning or at the end of the day. As a leader, you must be dynamic. Yoga reminds a person that every time, there are discoveries and new trends that one needs to adapt. As a leader, one needs to have continuous growth in leadership as well as in all aspects of our lives.