Mindful Leadership: The Podcast Edition!🎧

I recently had the pleasure of joining Manya Chylinski on her podcast Notes on Resilience to discuss a topic you could say I’m a fan of: the intersection of mindfulness, compassion, and leadership.

Our conversation, based on my article Why Workplace Mindfulness So Often Fails, explored how mindfulness—when approached with intention—can transform how we connect with others in professional and family (!) settings.

It was such a meaningful conversation I hope you’ll listen to the full episode here (spotify). 🎧

Five Takeaways

1. Mindfulness is a Tool, Not the Goal

“If the word mindfulness is a blocker for you, then let’s never use it again. The word isn’t what matters. The goal is to be a caring and human leader.”

Mindfulness isn’t about perfection or serenity—it’s about awareness and using that awareness to bridge the gap between how you want to show up and how you actually do.

2. You Can’t Fail at Mindfulness

Many people think they’re “bad” at mindfulness because their minds wander. But noticing those moments of distraction is mindfulness in action—you’re doing it!

3. Good Leadership Is about Caring, Not Mindfulness

“The goal isn’t to be a mindful leader, friend, or spouse—it’s to be a caring one, a human one.

Mindfulness helps leaders slow down and connect, but it’s not the point. True leadership means understanding your team’s needs, valuing their contributions, and leading with empathy—not just checking the “I’m a mindful leader” box.

4. Mindfulness Shapes Relationships, Not Just Ourselves

Mindfulness isn’t just a personal practice. The way we show up—whether calm or reactive, open or closed—impacts how we connect with others, and vice-versa.

5. Intentions Over Perfection

“Mindfulness helps us close the gap between how we want to show up and how we actually do in the face of life’s challenges.”

Try shifting from the impossible goal of perfection to setting a clear intention of what matters to us, and how we want to show up in this challenging world.

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If you have time for a listen, let me know your thoughts and what mindfulness in real life looks like for you!

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