“Being” in the Midst of Our “Doing”

by John Keyser

I believe every spiritual leader emphasizes that quiet time for reflection is a foundation for happiness, growth and success.

A spiritual leader recently led a discussion about appreciating that we are human beings, not human doers.

It helps greatly to keep that distinction in our minds as we live in such a crazy busy world. We find ourselves running from one thing to the next, inundated with texts and emails while in transit. Constantly we are “doing” with no time to “be”.

Yet, reflection and our self-awareness are vitally important.

Without reflection, we charge through our days doing things as they come up. Are they the truly important things we should be doing though? And are we having the conversations that really matter?

If we slow down, stop to reflect about ourselves as human beings, we can ask ourselves purposeful questions about why we are here, who are we called to be, what are our values, what will really matter at the end of our lives?

In business, oh, are we ever crazy busy! Endless meetings and the constant flow of information coming at us, and the ever increasing need to do more, often with fewer people. Most of us are stretched, maybe over-extended and stressed.

Let’s be intentional about this, about reflection. Let’s make time to reflect about what true leadership is, which is about helping others grow, succeed, and truly being a team. Leadership is a gift and one that must be continually cultivated.

• Who is the leader I want to be?
• What are the qualities I want to embody?
• Is this how I am actually leading? If not, what changes do I need to make?
• What are the quality of my relationships?
• What are the quality of my conversations with my team members?

The irony is, when we carve out 10 minutes for reflection, we are able to navigate through the events of the day better. Instead of reacting to things, we are able to respond with intentionality.

As a leader, we want our actions and our conversations to flow from our being, from our character. Our desire for integrity, while focused on helping our team members, is fueled by our kindness, mentoring and coaching.

Genuine inspiration comes from a place of “being,” not forced “doing.” And this difference is transparent in our leadership.

I invite you to consider setting aside 10 minutes each day, be it in the morning, at our office or before bed, to contemplate our leadership.

• What do I feel good about?
• Where might I be more effective?
• Am I focused on key priorities, e.g., relationships, helping team members grow and succeed?