When Your Brain Is On Vacation But Your Body Is In A Meeting

Be present in the moment. Sometimes, that is easier said than done. Everyone’s mind wanders from time to time, but what if it happens continuously? Is a restless mind detrimental to communication
and collaboration? 

Your Brain Is In A Margarita Mood, But You’re Stuck In A Conference Call

If you feel like you just can’t focus and give your all to the task at hand, your brain may need a break. Being present in the moment is essential for leaders, especially in the constantly changing business environment. Something that was good yesterday may already be obsolete, and you need great communication and collaboration skills to ensure that things run smoothly. If you are zoning out, problems may be missed, and feelings might get hurt. 

Life gives you plenty of time to do whatever you want to do    if you stay in the present moment.

Deepak Chopra

Your brain is not optimised when you are thinking about the next meeting while you’re still in the first one. If you are already focused on the next email, or the next flight, or the next playdate, or dinner party, or the million things you have going on, you are missing out on the NOW.

Perhaps you tend to zone out because you don’t have the best communication skills. It’s possible to learn ‘presencing,' an art form that is essential for innovative practices. You need to drop the guilt of the past and the anxiety of the future and live in the moment. When you focus on the past or future, you miss all the possibilities of now, and these opportunities may slip away, never to return.

Practise Strengthening Your Communication Skills

Neuroscience is teaching us about our brains, and using this knowledge, you can understand how your brain works to be in the present with others, allowing new ideas to form. If your mind is unable to focus, how can you be an effective leader?

There can be many causes for this problem. Maybe you do need a ‘margarita’ break, so to speak. A little vacation can do wonders for your well-being. Or perhaps you need to learn strategies to stop worrying about the future, and to instead feel accepting and curious about what may come. 

Companies nowadays are rarely autonomous. Most businesses rely on other firms to keep the gears moving. Without strong collaboration skills, you run the risk of throwing a wrench in the machinery. High levels of collaboration give people an inspiring atmosphere, improved relations, and enhanced communication flow. 

So, it’s up to you to decide the next step. Do you need some time off, time to reflect and let your brain relax? Do you need to deal with anxiety and worry? Do you want to improve your communication skills in general? What kind of leader do you want to be? The choice is yours.