Mindfulness

Maggie Schumacher contributed today's post.

As teachers and coaches, we oftentimes don’t admit to students that we are just as excited as they are about getting a nice, long break to re-energize and rejuvenate. Over the past few weeks as the days have grown shorter, I’ve been finding my own energy dwindling, regardless of how much sleep or exercise I’ve managed. At the start of November, I attended and presented at the WATG conference (Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted). While at this conference, I attended a session on mindfulness. During this session, the presenter shared some important reminders on how to be mindful, and I think this session was very timely for me to attend. As coaches, it is essential that we are mindful and present in our interactions with others.

Mindfulness can be a challenge, as our brains are wired to be reflecting on the past and projecting toward the future. To be mindful is to pay attention and tune into the moment you are in now, in the present. This is by no means an easy endeavor for everyone; we live in a world where technology surrounds us and disruptions are frequent. It seems to be more and more difficult to tune things out and tune our focus into one person or task. In addition, mindfulness is something that should be done non-judgmentally, without interpretation. This does not mean that we completely surrender all judgment, but that we leave room to perceive the needs of others and respond in a way that will not be misinterpreted. We may intend to be helpful when delivering advice, but sometimes giving of advice can be interpreted that something is lacking. The more in tune we can be to the needs and feelings of others, the more authentic the relationship and the better the results of this collaborative engagement.

Mindfulness is challenging, temporary and takes practice. The more mindful we can be, the more we can be responsive rather than reactive: this is essential in the world of coaching. Since September I’ve had the privilege to attend two coaching presentations by Laura Gleisner, and the conversation has turned to how we as coaches can avoid the Dreaded Drama Triangle. As coaches, it’s important that we focus on how we can empower others. We are not meant to be rescuers, but rather coaches who are providing others with the tools and support they need to be successful. This cannot be done if we are not present or if we coach with judgment.

How can we be more mindful in our daily practices? Be patient, be compassionate, and coach without expectation. In order to help others be mindful, we must first be a model of mindfulness and recognize this within ourselves. It’s important to not dwell on the past or spend too much time in the future; our focus should be on how we can get the most out of today.