If I were to ask you to name a well-known leader or public figure that embodies the word “calm,” who would you choose? I’d choose the Dalai Lama.
Known globally for his compassionate mindset and inspirational speaking, he has devoted his life to promoting peace and encouraging people to live their best lives with inner calm.
“Don’t ever mistake my silence for ignorance, my calmness for acceptance or my kindness for weakness. Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.”
The 14th Dalai Lama, spiritual leader (1935 – )
To be honest, I’ve not always considered calmness to be a sign of strength. I think that’s because most organizations I’ve worked with haven’t truly celebrated calmness as a key strength.
A Calm Leader Is One You Can Trust
In my experience, managers have been rewarded for delivering projects, saving money, and achieving sales. Being a calm leader has not often been rewarded or even called out as something to celebrate.
Similarly, interviewers have rarely looked for calmness in their new recruits. In fact, demonstrating calmness in an interview has occasionally been mistaken for a lack of drive, passion, enthusiasm, or being too laid back. And, as the quote above suggests, I’ve seen it regarded as a sign of weakness.
Yet calm is both a helpful characteristic and a useful behavior. Calm people tend not to display worry or anxiety in difficult situations, and they’re often reliable decision-makers or confident, strong leaders.
What more do you want in a crisis than a calm, unflappable leader who can cut through confusion and clearly communicate their strategy? That’s the kind of leader you can trust.
Being Calm Is a Superpower!
So, having given calmness further thought, I’m now on a mission to put calmness on the map – the behavioral competency map, that is. In the context of today’s complex and changeable workplace, it’s arguably one of the most powerful traits we can develop. Perhaps it’s even a superpower?
Should you need a little more convincing that calmness is worth celebrating, consider the following benefits. By staying calm you can:
- Feel a greater sense of inner confidence and feel more relaxed in general.
Yes, calm is definitely a superpower in my book. Find your calm and get stuff done.
About This Week’s Chat: Find Your Calm and Get Stuff Done
In our #MTtalk Twitter chat on Friday, we’ll be discussing the benefits and possible drawbacks of staying calm.
In our Twitter poll this week, we wanted to know what activity has a calming effect on you. To see all the options and results, please click here.
We’d love you to participate in the chat, and the following questions may spark some thoughts in preparation for it:
- What does calmness feel, look or sound like?
- When might it be unhelpful for you to be calm? Why?
- How do you react to a person who is not calm?
- What happens in the workplace when there isn’t enough calm?
- What does it feel like to be led by a calm leader?
- How can leaders facilitate calm for everyone?
Useful Resources About Staying Calm
To help you prepare for the chat, we’ve compiled a list of resources for you to browse. (Note: some resources are only available in full to Mind Tools Club or Corporate members.
Meditation for Stress Management
Physical Relaxation Techniques
The post Find Your Calm and Get Stuff Done – Join Our #MTtalk! appeared first on Mind Tools Blog.
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