Artwork for podcast Reimagining Work From Within
The power of presence: Rethinking mindfulness at work
Episode 466th May 2025 • Reimagining Work From Within • Within People
00:00:00 00:30:12

Share Episode

Shownotes

In this episode, Within People co-founder Jeff Melnyk is joined by partner Carol Kondo for a grounded and honest conversation about what’s really getting in the way of high performance at work. It’s not strategy - it’s presence.

Together, they unpack what mindfulness really means in a business context, how distraction is showing up in meetings, and why connection, intention and even phone-free boardrooms might just be the unlock for better collaboration and critical thinking.

Tune in for practical tips, thoughtful reflection, and a few laughs as Jeff and Carol explore what it means to show up fully and lead with presence.

Click here more information about Within People and the work we do

Transcripts

Jeff Melnyk:

Lemme just get my mic.

2

:

Sorry for my tardiness to shove

some cereal in my mouth real quick.

3

:

Carol Kondo: No, the

conversation does need energy.

4

:

It's mindfulness exactly.

5

:

Jeff Melnyk: Preparing

6

:

Carol Kondo: hunger, distraction.

7

:

It was

8

:

, Jeff Melnyk: the preparation,

9

:

Carol Kondo: get ready.

10

:

Jeff Melnyk: Get ready.

11

:

I feel like every time we get into this

studio, Carol, it's like, where in the

12

:

world are we more So lately it's you.

13

:

Where in the world are you?

14

:

Because you've had an exciting moving

to the UK journey that you've been on.

15

:

And last time we met at the beginning

of the year, you had been relocated.

16

:

Now I see by your summary at.

17

:

Carol Kondo: No, I'm not.

18

:

Jeff.

19

:

Lovely to be the podcast

with you once again.

20

:

South

21

:

Africa's diabolical saying that.

22

:

The UK has been cold.

23

:

I have not seen or felt the sun on my skin

in a while, so I was like, you know what?

24

:

I'm outside.

25

:

I'm feeling the warmth.

26

:

I'm really soaking in the ray of the sun.

27

:

So very happy to be recording

from Cape Town this time around

28

:

and super excited to do this.

29

:

Jeff Melnyk: And if listeners timestamp

this episode, they will say, actually, in

30

:

March, Carol, we had some sunny weather.

31

:

As a former resident of many decades

in the United Kingdom, I can tell you

32

:

this is part of British lore and that

you will get this pushback around how

33

:

much sun you do get in the UK just know

that these are urban myths and that

34

:

the sun will come, but the sun will go.

35

:

So I applaud your soaking in of

the vitamin D while you're in.

36

:

One of life's most beautiful,

cities and getting the joy.

37

:

But you and I have been working together

on quite a few projects lately where we've

38

:

noticed a bit of a pattern coming up.

39

:

We've been summoned to the

studio by producer Emily.

40

:

To talk about this because I think we've

been catching onto some key learnings

41

:

and just to give a little bit of context

for the listeners joining in there's

42

:

definitely something in the waters

right now around business performance

43

:

and how do we get teams to deliver?

44

:

And you and I have been noticing

there's a couple of blockers to

45

:

performance that aren't in the typical.

46

:

Realm of competencies

and delivering on OKRs.

47

:

There's something else in the waters.

48

:

I wanted to have this conversation with

you because as we've been working through

49

:

this journey together, I've noticed

some Carol Wisdom coming into the client

50

:

work, and I'm hoping our listeners

today will resonate with some of the

51

:

things that, that we, that we wanna say.

52

:

So, Carol, you and I have been working

on some projects lately where we've

53

:

noticed a trend and a theme coming

up, and we discussed that with Emily,

54

:

our podcast producer, we thought we

should get into the studio right away

55

:

to capture some of your wisdom around

things we've been noticing here and.

56

:

Particularly we've been look working

with clients all around how to get

57

:

teams to perform at their best and

reach the somewhat stretch goals

58

:

that are in business today, and that

the things that we've been noticing

59

:

that have been blocking performance

right now are not necessarily clarity

60

:

around things like OKRs or KPIs, but

more in the quality of presence that

61

:

people are bringing into their work.

62

:

Let's set the scene a

little bit about that.

63

:

What have we been noticing when we've

been in businesses right now, noticing

64

:

the sort of quality of presence

that people have been bringing.

65

:

Carol Kondo: So what we have been

noticing, is quite a lot of distraction

66

:

and sometimes people don't really grasp

the element of the distraction, but.

67

:

Gadgets are distracting people in

meetings, and there's an assumption that

68

:

you always need to be on during meetings.

69

:

Be accessible.

70

:

Make sure that you respond

to the of the slack.

71

:

Respond.

72

:

And respond and respond.

73

:

And I know generally in the world

there's an assumption that children

74

:

must be the ones that must have

their gadgets taken away, you know?

75

:

Or are the ones that are really

struggling with the distractions.

76

:

But it's also filtering its way,

if anything, into the adult space.

77

:

Into the boardrooms, meetings,

standup meetings and it's having

78

:

a really significant impact

on the quality of thinking.

79

:

And I guess maybe there's a

conversation with what has quality of

80

:

thinking got to do with cell phones?

81

:

Jeff Melnyk: Yeah, it's interesting, if

everybody could just anchor for a second

82

:

around that notion of the distraction.

83

:

I mean, personally I find it very

hard to watch anything on TV right

84

:

now without checking my phone

85

:

I also do this thing where I need to

research whatever I'm watching and

86

:

like find the backstory of something.

87

:

So rather than just watching the

show and enjoying the show, I've

88

:

got one eye and half my brain on it.

89

:

Whilst I'm running another script

of some research or I'm texting

90

:

someone, I've noticed people

walking down the street, they're

91

:

not actually walking down the street

92

:

they're on their phones and they're

not on their phones using a map.

93

:

They are on their phones

texting someone or.

94

:

I dunno, researching, whatever,

but they're not really present

95

:

and in the moment, and I think all

of us can have that experience.

96

:

Carol, you are no

stranger to this, are you?

97

:

Totally Namaste.

98

:

Ability to stay focused at all

times on your Korean drama.

99

:

Carol Kondo: Jeff, I am guilty as charged.

100

:

Like I'm really standing up

and I'm like, you know what?

101

:

Guilty as charged.

102

:

My thing is really just watching

TV and TikTok at the same time

103

:

and thinking I can do both things.

104

:

And what I've realized is I've missed an

essential part of this whole conversation.

105

:

I've missed something on the

TikTok as well that I was supposed

106

:

to be watching at that time,

107

:

in some ways I tend to feel like I didn't

get the satisfaction or the joy of the

108

:

particular thing that I was watching

fully or fully experience it because I'm

109

:

neither here nor there and I'm nowhere.

110

:

It leaves me feeling

like a need was not met.

111

:

Jeff Melnyk: Yeah, and I think

if we take that into the work

112

:

environment, there's this sort of

myth of multitasking, isn't it?

113

:

That I can be in a meeting and

doing something else, or I could

114

:

be having a conversation with you

whilst I'm sending that email.

115

:

there's been plenty of research out there

that shows that multitasking is a myth

116

:

thing two things at once really well.

117

:

But I think where we've always talked

about that at within is the ability

118

:

for folks to be mindfully present

we're gonna unpack that a little

119

:

bit in what we talk about today.

120

:

'cause I know for some people, mindful

could be a little bit woke, DEI, depending

121

:

what part of the country you come from.

122

:

But I think if we got to the

real essence of it, it just

123

:

means exactly what you said.

124

:

You're neither here nor there.

125

:

Do the thing that you mean to do.

126

:

Do it well, and feel the joy of it.

127

:

And I think for me, it's really

the power of being in the zone.

128

:

When I am doing one thing, I am cooking.

129

:

I am watching tv.

130

:

I am writing.

131

:

I am making music.

132

:

I'm not doing my emails and

trying to text my friends.

133

:

While I'm doing that, I am in the

zone doing the one thing, and that

134

:

has such a benefit, not only to my

output of what I'm doing, but also

135

:

to the joy that I feel in life.

136

:

I remember when I was recording music.

137

:

I would lose hours if not days of

just being in the joy of the creation.

138

:

I would come out of the sort of

like fog of it at about 7:00 PM and

139

:

realize I had not eaten all day.

140

:

'cause I was so in the

joy of the creation.

141

:

And I think that is joy.

142

:

Like it's amazing isn't it?

143

:

Do you have experiences like that as well?

144

:

The sort of flow state

or getting in the zone?

145

:

I

146

:

Carol Kondo: think what's coming

up for me as you speak, Jeff, is

147

:

I'm actually questioning whether

I've really fully experienced

148

:

some of the things that I've done.

149

:

Like how much have I really lost

out in some of the things that

150

:

I claim to have enjoyed, because

a part of my mind was not there.

151

:

What would have happened if I was

in the zone, if I was present with

152

:

myself, with the client, with the music

that I was listening to, what effect

153

:

or impact would that have had on me?

154

:

So as we come into spaces, especially

workspaces, how much of ourselves

155

:

are we really leaving behind?

156

:

And how much is the business really

losing out on from the capacity that we

157

:

can offer and possibly the gift of what

we are bringing into that workspace.

158

:

I

159

:

Jeff Melnyk: think you're right.

160

:

Like if I'm a leader and I'm working

with someone, I want to know they're

161

:

in the game or in the show, right?

162

:

If I go and watch a band play,

I don't want the guitarist to be

163

:

texting in the middle of the show.

164

:

I want them to give me the show

if I'm going to watch football.

165

:

Ball.

166

:

I do not need the Stryker to stop

and like check TikTok because

167

:

I need them to finish the job.

168

:

And I think this is where the

discipline of getting into the moment

169

:

is every one of ours responsibilities.

170

:

But as a leader, I think I have

a job not only to live up to

171

:

that and walk the talk, but also.

172

:

Ask my team to be present and in the

moment because if I want the team to

173

:

perform, they have to be fully in it.

174

:

As an individual, is there gonna get

more outta the experience of work?

175

:

Carol Kondo: They get more, they

make better decisions, and I feel

176

:

like we owe the people we work

with as well, our counterparts.

177

:

We owe them quality thinking.

178

:

We owe them quality presence because

there are some people who really take

179

:

this seriously and show up fully.

180

:

So to stop others from fading,

from conversations of fading in

181

:

the workplace, we really all.

182

:

Others, our whole selves in that moment.

183

:

And that's not, say,

don't forget, that's well.

184

:

Would really love it if

all of you was in the room.

185

:

Jeff Melnyk: And not only that, there

has been several pieces of research

186

:

that have come out, I think all the

way back to twenty sixteen, twenty

187

:

seventeen, where the smartphone

frenzy was really coming in.

188

:

That shows that the quality

of our strategic thinking.

189

:

Drops off, the more we are

devoted to our devices.

190

:

The research has shown that when the

phone is on the table and all your

191

:

notifications are on, you aren't really

using the critical thinking part of your

192

:

brain that's gonna give you the best.

193

:

Outcomes for anything that involves

that level of cognitive processing.

194

:

The research then says that if the phone

has notification silenced or maybe,

195

:

and the phone is turned over, you get a

little bit better, but you're still so

196

:

addicted to noticing the notifications

that you've got half your brain on it.

197

:

So let's just say we're at 25% capacity of

critical thinking when it's in our pocket

198

:

or when it's in a bag, then we get better.

199

:

So it allows for more

critical thinking capacity.

200

:

And it really is sort of

the capacity of your brain.

201

:

So think about like, I can't give

myself fully to thinking critically

202

:

it's better, but because it's still

in our proximity, we can feel it.

203

:

We get itchy for it.

204

:

We want it, we wanna check it.

205

:

I know it's there, especially

if it's in my pocket.

206

:

I can tell it's like

a heavy weight, right.

207

:

When we take it and we put it

outside of our persons in another

208

:

room, it's nowhere near us.

209

:

The ability for us to think

critically and make better

210

:

decisions exponentially increases.

211

:

So the science is there.

212

:

Why aren't people doing this?

213

:

What's stopping us from insisting

that the phone is nowhere

214

:

near us when we're working?

215

:

Carol Kondo: Jeff, that's a.

216

:

I think an assumption sometimes

in business that we, we need to be

217

:

available, we need to be accessible.

218

:

Even though we're in a meeting,

we have stopped cut, like creating

219

:

zones of concentration, zones of

per of, let me say that again.

220

:

Stop creating zones that have

no access zones that are really

221

:

sacred to the process of thinking.

222

:

We believe that if you're not

accessible, something's gonna burn.

223

:

And half of the things that we

actually, are distracted by are

224

:

things that we can manage or it's

just the excitement, I think because

225

:

as you were speaking, I thought of

the time knowing your child and.

226

:

Day in the park doesn't matter

because you're in this feeling

227

:

of I have to access the park.

228

:

And that's the same

with our notifications.

229

:

We're constantly expecting something

and being in a state of expectation

230

:

constantly, I think is exhausting

on the nervous system to a point.

231

:

If we stop expecting and think to

ourselves what will be, will be,

232

:

whatever I'll need to deal with,

I'll deal with after this meeting,

233

:

lemme just be here, offer myself and

hear what other people are thinking

234

:

and see what that will produce.

235

:

Jeff Melnyk: I think you're right.

236

:

There's that.

237

:

Almost addiction or if not overt

addiction to the dopamine hits

238

:

that we get from the phone.

239

:

But there's the excitement too.

240

:

Like you want people to connect with you.

241

:

You want to be wanted and needed.

242

:

And so there's something about like,

Ooh, I can't be present in this 45 minute

243

:

meeting right now because someone's

gonna need me to do something else.

244

:

Or, you know, we work a lot

in hospitality operationally.

245

:

Someone might have to call

me and get ahold of me.

246

:

Carol Kondo: I agree with

you, the sense of importance.

247

:

I am so important that they need me

and I cannot be taken away from them.

248

:

And if I'm not, sometimes maybe it

does also speak to how we've structured

249

:

our teams, because there are people

who cannot for the life of them,

250

:

be in a meeting or leading a team

because they're worried about that.

251

:

Team not having someone to lead them.

252

:

What are we really saying about

the systems that we've created?

253

:

Can our people operate without us?

254

:

Can they do without us for 45 minutes?

255

:

I think for most people it's actually yes.

256

:

But we've set up systems that require

us to be on, in and out a room.

257

:

Jeff Melnyk: One thing that happens when

you work with within people, and we're in

258

:

the middle of a creative process with you,

is we have a no phone and laptop policy.

259

:

I mean, definitely no laptops.

260

:

You don't need laptops to do the creative

work when you're in a within session.

261

:

So we always ask people

to put their laptops away.

262

:

It's just not needed for the

work we're gonna do today.

263

:

But the phones we've been a

little bit liberal with sometimes.

264

:

But Carol, we did an experiment lately

where we asked a senior team to put.

265

:

Their phones away on day one.

266

:

And just put it in their, in their

bag or in their pocket to notice the

267

:

difference of their quality of attention.

268

:

And then on day two, we got a little bit

braver with them and we asked them to put

269

:

it in a drawer at the back of the room.

270

:

I was thinking there may

be a small mutiny with.

271

:

This request, but what, how did it go?

272

:

I made the request, so it was really

good to get your feedback on how

273

:

talked it before as a bit of a

strategy to help the group kind of

274

:

get into connection with each other.

275

:

But what was your observation of the.

276

:

Carol Kondo: I thought, oh my

God, are we really gonna do this?

277

:

Because they we're really

expecting a revolution.

278

:

The team in credits to them,

they were really good about it.

279

:

They made an effort.

280

:

But you could see the itches.

281

:

I called them the itches, like

they're just itching to get

282

:

their hands on that phone.

283

:

They're itching to flip it over.

284

:

They're itching to just

check for five minutes.

285

:

So the first day was really tough and.

286

:

It was hard because there's the Constance

that I'm missing out on something.

287

:

By the time I'm done here, the house

could have burned down or whatever

288

:

else is burning in their minds.

289

:

And it was lovely to see them

step into the discomfort.

290

:

I think what really worked was

the ability of a team to step into

291

:

discomfort and to try something.

292

:

And when we did it the second day and

we asked them to put it in the drawer.

293

:

When they got the breaks,

like tea break and then they

294

:

would also get a phone break.

295

:

You could see like towards the

Serengeti, they're rushing to go and

296

:

get their phones and you're like, oh

my God, we're having the migration.

297

:

Right?

298

:

And then they pick up their

phones, like, check what's

299

:

happening, lemme make the calls.

300

:

Those that did their emails.

301

:

And on time as well, they put

them back and what they said

302

:

was, it was a, it was a gift.

303

:

We gave them a gift and them, the

gift of presence, we gave them gift

304

:

of time, gave them the opportunity

to hear somebody fully without

305

:

wondering what could be happening.

306

:

To the people that were not with us.

307

:

So I think it went well.

308

:

But it requires bravery.

309

:

It also requires vulnerability among

the team's part, and accepting that

310

:

there is something beyond the phones and

the messages that are coming through.

311

:

Jeff Melnyk: I think that it was,

it was a really great experiment.

312

:

I wanna do more of that well done

to that team for stepping into it

313

:

and agreeing to carry on with it.

314

:

But it feels like we're taking the phones

away and that's gonna revolutionize.

315

:

The experience of work.

316

:

I think it's a small step towards

something that is quite a big shift

317

:

that I would love to encourage

leaders in the workplace to do,

318

:

which is like you do want your teams

to be high performing right now.

319

:

There's a lot of uncertainty out there.

320

:

We need critical thinking.

321

:

We need creativity right now to solve

not only the problems of the day,

322

:

but to kind of build the resilience

that's gonna deal with a lot of

323

:

the uncertainty that's out there.

324

:

So if you want a high

performing team, you gotta get.

325

:

Them back in the conditions of

being the best team they can be.

326

:

And I think in the example of that

client we put that wrapper around it.

327

:

Like, you guys wanna do

your best work today?

328

:

You wanna work as a high performing world

class executive team, you're gonna have

329

:

to change the way you're approaching.

330

:

The work today, because that's

gonna get you to a better outcome.

331

:

I feel like that's the imperative.

332

:

Rather than, Hey, your phone's bugging me.

333

:

Get your phone out of the room.

334

:

It is a little bit more of

like, why are we doing this?

335

:

What is this for?

336

:

Okay.

337

:

so we've come up with four top tips on

how we think leaders can be thinking

338

:

a little bit more about the connection

between performance and presence.

339

:

As we were drafting these, I was thinking

like, this is what boardrooms need.

340

:

This is what we need to see executives

around the table, nevermind just

341

:

great creative minds around the table.

342

:

Like how do we get.

343

:

The best thinking out of people who

are supposed to be running the show.

344

:

As we were coming up with these

tips, I was challenging us to

345

:

think, would a board do this?

346

:

And I think they should.

347

:

So the first tip we've called Get ready.

348

:

Get ready to get into presence.

349

:

What does this mean?

350

:

Carol Kondo: Well, Jeff, honestly

speaking, it's derived from

351

:

the whole concept of preparing

yourself for something like a

352

:

date, for example, or going out

to meet someone most of the time.

353

:

We take time to prepare ourselves.

354

:

We'll brush our hair, we'll make

sure that our foundation is on

355

:

flick, we'll make sure we're all

shaved, whatever else we need to do.

356

:

But there's an element of intention

around your preparation for the self.

357

:

In the same way when you are getting

into your meetings, the process

358

:

of removing your is also one of

those things that ready process.

359

:

Sitting quietly with your thoughts,

and we're not saying sit still like

360

:

kids in high school or in primary

school, but really just take time

361

:

to land into the room, find some

form of stillness within yourself.

362

:

Being here now in the moment and preparing

to meet others in that moment is so

363

:

useful because when we step into rooms,

we have a different energy and getting.

364

:

The room to align on an energy is working

itself before we start talking about the

365

:

things that I essential in that meeting.

366

:

So there's also the need to consider our

impact on others as well in the room.

367

:

So it's so important to ground yourself.

368

:

It's so important to find

stillness because it's not

369

:

just about you, it's about you.

370

:

And the bigger good.

371

:

Jeff Melnyk: I think that's right.

372

:

We're, we're gonna collaborate.

373

:

We're gonna make some big decisions.

374

:

We're a board, we're a senior team.

375

:

Quite often we've got a meeting right up

to the point where we're joining another

376

:

meeting or another call, and it's very

difficult for us to clear down what we've

377

:

just done and step into something new.

378

:

And I feel like.

379

:

That's, that's the key.

380

:

Like are you ready to collaborate today?

381

:

Are you ready to do your best thinking?

382

:

How do you get in that sort

of preparation for yourself?

383

:

Everybody must have their own practice for

that, but I think even something as simple

384

:

as can we stop booking meetings back to

back to back, to back with each other?

385

:

Can we have the space that creates

the pause before we go into that?

386

:

Okay.

387

:

Top tip number two.

388

:

We've called this one being intentional

about removing the distractions.

389

:

We've just been talking about removing

the phone and I think that's one physical

390

:

thing, like get all the other things

that might distract you outta the way.

391

:

But I've also got some other distractions

possibly going on in my head.

392

:

Am I in the moment right now?

393

:

Am I thinking about my last meeting or

what I'm having for dinner tonight or

394

:

the problems of the world around me?

395

:

So.

396

:

Carol, I've often said it would be

really great if senior executives would

397

:

meditate before they start a meeting.

398

:

I think that if that's a bit much

for a lot of people, I think a lot

399

:

of people don't find meditation as

something that's accessible to them.

400

:

But is that what we're saying here?

401

:

Like should we see boardrooms meditating?

402

:

Carol Kondo: The truth, Jeff, is if we

said something like that, I don't think

403

:

we'd have a lot of clients coming our way

because you need to be in relationship

404

:

with the sounds of the waterfall and

the gong and all those things, and

405

:

I don't think we're quite there yet.

406

:

For some boardrooms that can work, but

for the majority, what we're really.

407

:

Off the mind.

408

:

And when we talk about the clearing, we

do appreciate and accept that we have

409

:

people that are in hospital, we have

kids that are dealing with hard stuff.

410

:

We have depression, we have all those real

life hard things that we're working with.

411

:

But how do we hold space and notice

what we're feeling and still be present?

412

:

And I think there's something about asking

ourselves as we get into these boardrooms,

413

:

what is it that I'm holding that go.

414

:

Possibly distract me and naming that

and saying, okay, I have the cat.

415

:

I have the child at school.

416

:

Alright, is there anything that I

can do in the next 45 minutes that

417

:

would need me to step up in any way

and help or alleviate the situation?

418

:

If your answer is no, then.

419

:

Whatever is happening now can

wait for the next 45 minutes and

420

:

I'll deal with it afterwards.

421

:

That process is like a storm,

it clears the path for us.

422

:

It doesn't stop the distraction that

has happened around us or whatever

423

:

challenges, but we're aware of

what is in our field of play and

424

:

the things that might distract us.

425

:

And when you notice that happening, just

holding that into awareness is important.

426

:

Jeff Melnyk: I think a really practical

practice for that, is just a check-in

427

:

at the beginning of a session.

428

:

I know that boards and executives

wanna get down to business, but a

429

:

simple ritual of that clearing down.

430

:

So we'll often use things,

what are you bringing today?

431

:

What are you leaving behind?

432

:

Or like, what's your weather?

433

:

How's everyone doing right now?

434

:

Brings that into awareness in

the room and helps to calibrate

435

:

everyone into a greater sense.

436

:

Two minutes.

437

:

It does not need to take that long.

438

:

You wanna get down to business, but

get into business in the right way.

439

:

Okay?

440

:

Top tip number three.

441

:

Obviously you're in the middle of

collaboration, critical thinking, decision

442

:

making while you're around the table.

443

:

Our thoughts begin to wander.

444

:

I start to itch for the distraction.

445

:

I start to think about something else.

446

:

I'm worried about what my team is doing.

447

:

Whilst I've, taken this 45 minute moment

to be in a meeting with someone else, what

448

:

do we do to bring us back into the room?

449

:

Carol, when inevitably our distracted

mind will become outta focus, being

450

:

in the moment with my colleagues.

451

:

Carol Kondo: the biggest thing you can

do is actually appreciate and accept

452

:

that your mind has begun to wander,

and once you notice yourself, the

453

:

cheeseburger at movie, the next scene,

whatever the case may be, accepting

454

:

that my mind has wandered and not

holding myself in contempt or guilt.

455

:

Is the first step and just like getting

lost in real life practically, if

456

:

you were getting lost, you wouldn't

keep walking aimlessly, you'd

457

:

pause and trace your steps back.

458

:

And it's the same thing

from a mental place as well.

459

:

When you notice yourself wondering,

when you notice yourself thinking about

460

:

things that you shouldn't be thinking

about in a meeting, it is for you to.

461

:

To the room in a mental head space.

462

:

And when you find yourself distracted

and you feel like I have to grab my

463

:

phone, walk back into the room mentally

and do that without any judgment around,

464

:

I got lost in my train of thought.

465

:

Oh, I got distracted.

466

:

We're human.

467

:

It happens to us.

468

:

What's important is

coming back into the room.

469

:

Don't keep walking.

470

:

Jeff Melnyk: I think , this again,

is a real practice, isn't it?

471

:

In coaching skills.

472

:

We learn active listening and

how important it is to be fully

473

:

present for your client and

to be able to connect to them.

474

:

And so we learn how to notice the

distractions and to sort of recalibrate

475

:

it and you sort of get into that

flow state of even just listening.

476

:

I don't think this is something people

really learn a skill around, to notice.

477

:

How you're distracted and bring

yourself back is a real habit, former.

478

:

So I like what you said there,

like, don't feel bad when you get

479

:

distracted 'cause it's gonna happen.

480

:

But cultivate a sense of

self-awareness to to continue to

481

:

bring yourself back into the room.

482

:

Tip number four, committing

to a practice in the group.

483

:

So what we did in the story with the

group that put their phones in the

484

:

drawer, we had to get their commitment

and buy-in to, to collaborate a

485

:

little bit differently didn't we?

486

:

I think the way that.

487

:

Executives meet, or creative teams meet

or boards meet, there's a commitment to

488

:

that ritual and a way to doing that in

a way that gets us to the best outcomes.

489

:

I'm not sure everybody makes those kind

of commitments when they set up a way of

490

:

collaborating, when we work with clients,

we establish that commitment in that

491

:

ritual, but why do we need the commitment?

492

:

To collaborate differently,

Carol, and how do we sort of work

493

:

with that commitment over time?

494

:

I imagine we could set up a

commitment in one meeting.

495

:

We're gonna collaborate together

this way and we'll just forget

496

:

about that the next time.

497

:

Carol Kondo: If you're quite right.

498

:

There is something about the commitment,

but I think more than anything else,

499

:

one of the biggest things that we

did with them, the previous group,

500

:

was we helped them understand why I.

501

:

Not use phones in the session.

502

:

And when people understand the why, it

doesn't have the parent-child dynamic

503

:

where like, I'm taking your phones

away from you, but this is what happens

504

:

when you have your phone next to you.

505

:

This is the kind of thinking

that you have in the room.

506

:

This is the joy that you would get

and this is how well you'd contribute.

507

:

And when people understand why

it's easier for them to put.

508

:

Their commitments on

something they understand.

509

:

And once you can get your team

committed to the fact that the quality

510

:

of thinking in this room will be

so high, we'll use half the meeting

511

:

time because everyone is present.

512

:

We'll get better outcomes and we'll

actually have our best thinking yet.

513

:

That is so important in bringing your team

and creating buy-in, and also normalizing

514

:

the fact that this is something we do.

515

:

Here in our organization, these

are the benefits and normalizing

516

:

that sometimes we might get

distracted and that creates safety.

517

:

So creating environments where

people understand why they're doing

518

:

things, the impact of the things

that they're doing and what they

519

:

will get outta it is so important.

520

:

I

521

:

Jeff Melnyk: think what's coming up for me

when you say that is leaders really want

522

:

a culture of performance, but I wonder

if they established more of a culture of

523

:

presence worked with at source, what leads

to better performance rather than trying

524

:

to just demand outcomes all the time.

525

:

I wonder what would happen.

526

:

I wonder what the, the business

performance would look like.

527

:

And I wonder what the quality of the

employee experience would be like.

528

:

'cause if I'm more present in what

I'm doing, I'm going to be more

529

:

connected to the purpose and the impact

of what I've been working towards.

530

:

And that is gonna give me a

much better experience of work.

531

:

And I'm just, I think that we, I think

leaders have maybe gotten it wrong.

532

:

They're demanding outcomes rather than.

533

:

I think leaders have got it wrong.

534

:

I think they've been demanding outcomes

instead of creating the conditions for

535

:

people to be their best performer at work.

536

:

Carol Kondo: Totally.

537

:

Jeff.

538

:

Stepping into a room knowing we

haven't done our best thinking yet.

539

:

Our best thinking is yet to come.

540

:

I think that gives a group

something to look forward to.

541

:

You know, when we come together, great

thoughts are thought in this room.

542

:

Mighty men and women or whatever

are gathered in this room, and

543

:

the thoughts that are in this

room are quality thoughts.

544

:

Was well thought out half of

the time with people in meetings

545

:

saying, please say that again.

546

:

I kind of missed that.

547

:

And once someone says, I kind of

missed that, you know, that they

548

:

were walking in their mind and

they were walking off the grid.

549

:

So to prevent that, you know, let's

bring people in, let's encourage them

550

:

to really, really step into being

here right now and unleashing their

551

:

own potential, therefore, performing

to the best of their capabilities.

552

:

Jeff Melnyk: Carol, as

always, the wisdom flows.

553

:

Four tips that I hope leaders

can take away from this.

554

:

Thank you.

555

:

Always a pleasure to get you into

the studio and a very present

556

:

40 minute conversation with you.

557

:

Carol Kondo: Always enjoy, chef.

558

:

I look forward to our next one.

559

:

Jeff Melnyk: Thanks for

listening, everyone.

560

:

Tune into our podcast every other week

for more episodes on what's happening

561

:

in the culture and leadership space.

562

:

What's on the mind of the leaders

committed to change in our community and

563

:

other future of work content that you

crave Re-imagining work from within is

564

:

available wherever you listen to podcast.

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube