10 Key Words for Mindful Leadership

Women leaders are faced with numerous challenges in their careers. No matter what type of work you do, it can sometimes be difficult to sort through all the “small stuff” that naturally rolls across your desk, while staying focused on the larger goals you want to reach.

We all hope to be mindful leaders in order to cultivate an atmosphere that will inspire us and others. As an independent business owner, I have learned through experience to make sure I include 10 key elements when planning my work day.  This keeps me mindful of my mission, and happy while I work.

Looking

As you set your daily schedule and map out your calendar of dreams, be prepared to meet all your daily challenges by putting these 10 key words into practice:

Focus

Start out your day with quiet time. Take 5 to 10 minutes after you wake up to relax and listen to your inner self. Before you jump into the tasks of the coming day, remember to begin quietly and stay in tune with your inner consciousness. Some people try meditation or yoga, while others just need to relax and be quiet. This is the key to a stress free day.

Organize

Make time to organize. Plan out your schedule in a way that is both realistic and ambitious. Divide your time into larger segments to keep you focused on the big picture. Then divide up those tasks with smaller goals. Keep in mind, your schedule should include flexibility for the unexpected things. Focus on ways to stay organized, and reduce the clutter on your desk. A clean and well organized workspace can help you stay motivated and inspired.

Work

This describes the part of your day where you do what you love, and expect to complete the tasks you start. Think about what you really want to accomplish with your day. Dive in and do what you do best. Have no fear as you take on both expected and unexpected events. Your work should bring you satisfaction more than anything else. Love what you do, and remember to make mental notes of your own efforts and accomplishments. Pat yourself on the back for the things you do well.

Enjoy

Make time every day for small moments of enjoyment. Find the joy in small things. Reward yourself in tiny ways when you reach a small goal. Take a breath from your hard work to unwind, even if only for a few minutes. Carry on with a positive attitude, fueled by self-awareness, generosity and gratitude.  Life is for living, and living means enjoying life. See the value in having some fun throughout your day as you work.

Act

Be bold. Drive yourself forward toward your goals. Be the powerful leader that you are and the confident woman that you have become. Lead. Inspire. Act on your instincts. And most of all, trust yourself to do the things that come naturally to you. Know and apply your talents in the best way you know how. Make your dreams happen. Walk the talk. Don’t hold back.

Connect

Connect to others. Be aware of everyone around you, and build relationships in the way that only you can. Make the connections you need to allow everything you want to accomplish happen. Build your personal (as well as online) connections into a network of people who support you, believe in you and are ready to help you do all the things you want to do. Use your knowledge as power to connect and stay connected.

Exercise

Take time to exercise. This doesn’t have to mean hardcore workouts – just regular exercise. Never skip a day. Take breaks and stretch. Go for short walks. Climb stairs whenever you can. Do what you enjoy doing, such as running, bike riding, doing sit-ups or dancing. Daily exercise is not only one of the most crucial ways to stay healthy, but to improve your energy and brain power. Getting physical is part of the larger picture of taking care of yourself so you can be your best.

Nourish

Even when you are busy, remember to eat healthy. Don’t cut corners when it comes to your own health.  In general, you will feel better if you increase your intake of fruits and vegetables, and stay away from soda, too much caffeine and foods high in sugar. Stick to a healthy diet and avoid overeating. Eat small amounts more often, rather than just 3 large meals. Eating healthy foods that are high in protein will make you feel better and have more energy.

Dream

Make time each day for the important act of dreaming. Try to avoid fixating on every little thing that is racing through your thoughts. Quiet your mind and visualize your loftiest goals coming true. Allow yourself to imagine for a moment the satisfaction of reaching your goals. Dream often and dream big! Don’t hold back on imagining your greatest aspirations. Take time to sit back and dream of what you really want.

Relax

Finding time to relax is majorly important to your brain and physical well being. There are many ways to relax, so find one that works for you. You could relax with your favorite music, turn the lights down low, take a hot bath or sauna or lay on the floor with a towel covering your eyes. Let yourself slow down and enjoy the feeling of releasing any built up stress that can damage your health. Make sure you get enough rest. If you have trouble sleeping, you may need to explore sleep enhancing alternatives. Try meditating, doing yoga, getting a massage or whatever you need to do. Relaxing even for a few minutes periodically during the day will help reduce your stress and keep your energy flowing in a positive direction.

When you include these 10 key words for being a mindful leader in your daily routine, you can have a happier and healthier day which will prepare you for new adventures – leading you closer to realizing all your dreams!


karen>Karen is a free-spirited writer, photographer, and artist from Boise, ID. She loves exploring nature, taking photographs and writing stories about real people who do amazing things. She is the proud mother of 3 wonderful grown children and grandmother of two. She is a risk-taker, adventurer, traveler, sometimes hermit and sometimes social butterfly. She has high aspirations about living her dreams and she believes anything is possible.

Top Six Benefits to Joining a Power Circle: The Inside Scoop from Past Participants

To date, more than 100 women—from CEOs and executives to small business owners and transitioning mothers—have participated in our Power Circles program. In true Emerging Women form, they have generously shared their amazing success stories to further inspire and ignite the community.

1. Thinking bigger.

We all know what it’s like to get stuck in old ways of thinking. What once worked wonders can quickly become the reason for a rut. Are you due for an upgrade in perspective? The group dynamic of a Power Circle helps us uncover new modes of viewing a situation, leading to more expansive thinking and creative problem solving.

As Rachelle Reichley, Founder of YAY! LIFE!, puts it, “The exposure here in the power of the circle—where everyone is going in their work, in their relationships, in their career—it’s helped me think a lot bigger, and that has a huge value.”

2. Gaining clarity.

Sometimes we know we’ve got “it” in us, but we’re not exactly sure what “it” is. We know or have an inkling of what’s inside or a spark of an idea, but may not have total clarity. As the NYC 2014/15 Power Circle participants told us, that doesn’t have to be a problem.

“These powerful women will reflect back what is burning inside of you, what wants to shine, what wants to come out, the gifts that we bring to the world.” And for others, like Rachel Allen, Travel Production Tour Coordinator, the circle helped her get clarity for her next steps: “It really helped me define and set the structure for where I want to go and put me on a different path.”

3. Speaking truth.

“The circle helped me find my voice. It helped me figure out my values, my definition of success in my terms, and how I wanted to move forward with my life,” shares a Power Circle participant.

It can be hard to locate our true voice if we’re not exercising it regularly. Power Circles are designed with reflections and practices to help bring out your truth, so you can lead with your most authentic self, loud and proud.

4. Holding vision and space.

Event planner, fundraiser and mentor Susie Mordoh says, “These women have become my sisters. They don’t need to get into my day to day (like family and friends do), they hold space for me, accept me and support me as a person overall. We do that for each other and our visions have been amplified, our frustrations have been protected and our successes have been celebrated.”

What she said!

5. Sharing wisdom.

The beauty of circle lies in the diversity—from life experiences to career levels—of people who participate. In this collective setting, you can leverage the strength and experience of others to help you grow and facilitate your own learning.

The flip side? We all have something to share in this world. Power Circles are an meaningful and impactful place to do that.

6. Pushing boundaries.

One of beautiful qualities of a Power Circle lies in the safe space created. When we feel safe, we have the foundation for deep intimacy and growth.

In the words of Liz Sinnot, Director of Stores for Evereve, “There was an intimacy created that was really critical to this group being successful. It allowed everybody to go beyond boundaries that you wouldn’t normally go beyond.”

Now it’s time to dive in….

“Joining Emerging Women’s NYC Power Circle was the best decision I made!” says Susie Mordoh. Are you ready to invest in YOU? Don’t miss this chance to take your seat in a circle built for elevation and transformation beyond your wildest imagination! Register NOW.


Registration closes on October 31st.

How Big is your BIG? – #emergingnow

Dear Emerging Women,

I love January because it is such an internal time of year. This is a time of curling inward to reach that deepest part of our selves that knows just what we need in order to feel that we are giving fully to the world. This is the source of all creative visioning, this place deep under the surface. And it is from this place that we are able to articulate our deepest desires.

All year, we have been gathering nuggets of insight, perspectives, goals and ideas for change, and we have buried them deep for the time when the hustle and bustle stops enough for us to sort them all out. This is a time to stay in the dream state a little longer, to enjoy the dive into the unknown, unfettered and without limit. It is a time for expanding our vision, without the hinderance of implementation and execution.

And for women, right here, right now – this is the year to dream BIG. As I have been collaborating with sponsors, investors, media and other strategic partners, I am always asked: “What is the long-term vision for Emerging Women?” And each time I come up with the most audacious goal I can imagine for Emerging Women, I ask myself….is that right? Could it have more impact? Could it help more people? Make more money? Could it be bigger? And then my sense of what’s possible stretches even further.

If you can imagine something, you can make it happen. So don’t hold back. Let the vastness of your inner landscape show you what is possible. And remember, not everything has to be big, big, BIG! all the time in terms of business. Sometimes “big” simply means “in alignment with our desires.” Sometimes just asking for what we want is big in and of itself.

No matter what big looks like for you, remember that you don’t have to do it alone. When the day-to-day reality of a bold new life path starts to set in, I can find myself shrinking under the weight of my lofty aspirations. I start to convince myself that my vision is too far-reaching, that I need to scale it back a bit, play it safe. And those are the moments I thank Goddess for my circle of power women.

Women have a special gift for reminding each other just how badass and capable they are. We help each other stay connected and inspired in the face of life’s challenges. We see each other, we listen to each other, and we inspire each other. As a new path begins to unfold in this time of reflection, tap into the wisdom of the feminine by circling with the women in your life, and ask each other: How big can we be in 2015?

Big love,

Chantal Pierrat

Founder, Emerging Women

PS – Registration for March Power Circles is now OPEN! If you’re looking for a facilitated circle that can help you create and execute your vision for 2015, join a Power Circle today.  Register HERE  to be matched into a group of women specially tailored to accent and compliment your process (spaces are limited).


 Super Early Bird Tickets are On Sale for EW Live 2015 in San Francisco!

We’d love to hear what you’re getting into in 2015. Let us know in the comments:

Transformation + Courage – #EmergingNow

Dear Friends,

One of the articles in this week’s Juicy Bites round-up of EWlive14 blog posts quotes me as saying, “Committing to authenticity takes immense courage, and I don’t believe it can be achieved alone.” This pretty much sums up not only the reason I founded EW, but also the reason I was able to found EW.

Transformation and transition can be upsetting if we don’t have anchors to help us stay true to and in alignment with our selves. When things seem to be moving too fast, I need the support of my community – specifically my women’s circles. I love to see that a lot of you already know this: we see circles forming of EW participants all across the US, and we’ve had requests to start them in the UK, Australia, and other exciting locations.

As you know we’re rolling out our Power Circle program starting next month, and registration ends this Saturday. If you’ve been carrying dreams in your heart but haven’t had the support to realize them, keeping your ideas, passions and goals in flow with a circle and trained facilitator will work wonders. I hope you jump on this opportunity with us!

Big love,

Chantal Pierrat

Founder, Emerging Women

Power Circle Registration Ends Nov. 1st!

  Juicy Bites: Your Voices ~ Sharing Experiences

We’d love to hear from you. Drop us a line in the comments:

The Power of Circles – #EmergingNow

Dear Friends,

Emerging Women Live 2014 ROCKED THE HOUSE! I’m still processing all the magic and mojo that was flowing like crazy. Did you feel it? We have some beautiful images of the event that we can’t wait to share with you… and you can share yours with us, too (just upload them onto the EW App).

Some of you are already wondering how to keep this amazing momentum going, which is why I am so excited to announce that Power Circles are now open! Keep riding the wave of badassery by joining a monthly facilitated group of like-minded women taking the leap to create lives of deep meaning and impact.

I truly believe that there is no better place to create and manifest your vision than in an intimate circle of authentic and vulnerable women. Emerging Women exists because of the work that I’ve done in my personal Power Circle. I sincerely hope you join us – I can’t wait to see what we can all create when we give ourselves permission slips to do the work it takes to transform ourselves and our world!

Big love,

Chantal Pierrat

Founder, Emerging Women

 

 How do we look? Check out the NEW SITE!

 Just TWO WEEKS to join a transformative and amazing Power Circle!

 Did you blog about Ewlive14? Point us to your post – we might use it for our next Juicy Bites!

We’d love to hear from you. Drop us a line in the comments: