Why Business Owners Need to Master Their Thoughts
As a business leader, you are the captain of your ship, meaning the decisions you make shape your company’s future, your team, and often, your industry. Given the significance of your daily responsibilities, have you considered how your thoughts influence your productivity, happiness, and well-being? Your answer to this may transform how you lead.
A study by Killingsworth and Gilbert (2010) revealed that people spend nearly half of their waking hours with their minds wandering—and this wandering often makes them less happy. Even when thoughts drift to pleasant topics, the emotional payoff is surprisingly low and plummets significantly when those thoughts are neutral or unpleasant. The study found that being present in the moment is one of the strongest predictors of happiness, regardless of the task at hand.
For business leaders, this insight is vital. While most business leaders are taught to leave emotions out of business decisions, it would be naive to assume any decision is made entirely emotionless. Our thoughts drive our emotions, which impact our decision-making, interpersonal relationships, and ability to lead effectively. Experiencing a wandering mind during an important meeting, strategic planning session, or employee interaction could lead to missed details, misjudgments, and a less connected team.
Why Your Presence Matters
As a business leader, your presence holds weight. Employees and consumers look to you for guidance, clarity, and inspiration. A focused, present leader is more equipped to make better decisions, navigate challenges, and foster a workplace culture that thrives on trust and collaboration. Contrarily, a distracted mind can result in reactive leadership, missed opportunities, and our worst enemy, burnout.
Now…staying present is not just about productivity; it’s about self-care. Leadership often comes with immense pressure, leaving little room to process thoughts and emotions. Mind-wandering—if left unchecked—can worsen stress and reduce your capacity to show up fully for yourself and others.
Bridging the Gap: Mindfulness in Action
The good news is that you can train your mind to focus and enhance your ability to stay present. Mindfulness, the practice of paying attention to the present moment with curiosity and without judgment, offers simple yet powerful solutions.
Here’s a quick breathing exercise to get started:
The 4-4-8 Breath:
1. Sit comfortably with your back straight and feet flat on the floor.
2. Close your eyes or soften your gaze.
3. Inhale deeply through your nose for a count of 4.
4. Hold your breath for a count of 4.
5. Exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of 8.
6. Repeat this cycle until you feel presently at ease.
7. Make sure to breathe from your belly, as chest breathing is related to stress. This practice calms the nervous system and anchors you in the present. Use it before meetings, during high-pressure moments, or as a daily ritual to center yourself.
Lead with Presence
As Killingsworth and Gilbert’s research shows, your thoughts shape your emotional landscape—and, by extension, your effectiveness as a leader. By cultivating mindfulness, you can reduce mental wandering, boost your happiness, and lead with clarity and purpose.
Remember, your ability to lead starts with your ability to manage your own mind. In the words of philosopher Lao Tzu, “Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.” Make mindfulness your secret weapon, and watch your life and leadership transform.
Contributing Writer
Morgan Jacobs, BS
Myndful Lyfe LLC
Baltimore, MD
