When I think of mindful leadership, what comes to mind is being real, raw, and present. It takes you from a place of honesty and moment-by-moment connection with the person or group in front of me. There is no planned strategy or rehearsed response – just a curious and open presence. It allows me to engage from my gut, to respond in ways that feel authentic.

Over the years, I have developed a few mindful leadership practices that have transformed my management style and had a profound impact on our company culture.

1. Start your day grounded, not rushed

I start my day with an early breakfast sadhanawhich is my dedicated yoga and meditation time. As a non-negotiable part of my routine, I intentionally surrender my ego before entering the day. This practice keeps me humble and grounded, allowing me to approach leadership from a place of service rather than control.

Instead of feeling superior or assuming I have all the answers, I connect with myself so that I can honestly connect with others. This practice has helped me set the tone for how I want to appear as a leader—calm, focused, and present.

This basis translates directly into approaching a meeting or a difficult decision. Just my presence can change the atmosphere in the room, which usually creates space for more honest communication and teamwork. Instead of rushing to an answer, we stand back, absorb and evaluate the topic from multiple perspectives. This strategy seems unusual, especially in a hectic company environment, but for my team and I, it has been relatively effective.

Related: Why leaders must learn the art of patience

2. Team building retreat

I prioritize personal and professional growth retreats for myself and my team to cultivate more awareness. Such immersive environments facilitate our escape from daily routines, fostering collective growth and introspection. In my experience, the environment cultivated during retreats creates a vulnerability and honesty that is rarely achieved within conventional office environments. These retreats catalyze shared developmental experiences, bringing the team closer together and creating deep bonds.

One of the most critical events in my leadership journey came through teaching English in Asia. You see, I am dyslexic and have always struggled with insecurities around spelling, reading and writing. I had carried this anxiety throughout my life, an anxiety that often prevented me from taking full advantage of opportunities.

After pondering, I bought a one-way ticket to Thailand. I was determined to learn English despite my insecurities. After a month of hitting the pavement, I got an audition at a language school. The subject I was going to study was sports. Feeling like a fraud, I barely made it through the audition, but I pushed through and got the job. Over time, I became the school's teacher trainer, and that's when I shared my story with the former trainer. Facing my fear freed me, and it has become a lesson I practice every day—to face the fear head on instead of skirting around it.

Related: 7 differences between conscientious and maniacal leadership

3. Admit your mistakes

Leaders naturally fall into the trap of believing they must have all the solutions. Admitting mistakes and embracing openness, however, can be significantly more effective than trying to present a perfect image. I own my mistakes. I don't pretend to know everything. I keep quiet unless I have something important to share. When you make a mistake, announce it. Discuss what you might do differently next time. This shows that it's okay to learn through mistakes and sets a tone of continuous improvement for the team.

Recently, my team completed an experiential training aimed at promoting career and personal development. The idea of ​​synergy – where 1+1=3, meaning we can achieve more collectively than we can individually, was among the key steps. That concept was put to use this week when the team had one tight project deadline. The team quickly came together, developed a strategy, implemented it, and then reconvened to evaluate what went well and what didn't. Ego was less present. Honesty about how best to contribute emerged. A group awareness of meeting and exceeding expectations is evident.

Our common language and awareness from the workshop helped us collaborate without egos or unnecessary friction. The process was invigorating for each member and this energy was evident in the client's feedback. This approach is a stark contrast to traditional leadership, which often emphasizes control, strategy, and ego-driven decision-making. Mindful leadership, on the other hand, encourages openness and prioritizing growth over perfection.

Related: How to be a conscious leader who is resilient to crises

4. Fostering clear and honest communication

I speak clearly, without sugar coating. It's not personal, but always results-based. Sometimes, reality can be hard to embrace, but clearly understanding sITUATION it is crucial to making progress.

In conventional leadership, there is often a tendency to tiptoe around the truth or to soften FEEDBACK in a way that reduces its impact. However, based on my experience, this approach tends to cause confusion and hinder progress.

I have noticed that my team functions with greater confidence and efficiency because of clear and direct communication. We focus on the tasks at hand and find ways to enhance our mutual support in achieving goals and moving the mission forward. This approach has greatly improved our operations and created a positive culture that values ​​feedback as a chance for personal and professional development rather than just criticism.

Throughout my leadership experience, I have seen the importance of mindful leadership. It requires a commitment to be fully engaged, authentic and focused on personal and professional development. It's all about building a culture that prioritizes authenticity on surface and service on control. The journey is still unfolding, and the significant impact of mindful leadership is indisputable—both for me and for the people I have the honor of leading.