Years ago, as a newly promoted senior leader in a PR and marketing agency, I felt the weight of my...
I went to the mountains to relax…
Turns out, I brought my busy mind with me.
This summer, I had the chance to hike both the Rockies and the Smoky Mountains, two stunning places filled with cool air, endless green trails, and sweeping views that make you stop in your tracks. Absolute magic.
At least, that was the idea.
But here’s the truth: even surrounded by all that beauty, I kept reaching for my phone to take the perfect photo, check the time, or think about what was next. In my effort to “capture” the moment, I was actually missing it.
It made me wonder—how often do we all do this? Not just on vacation, but in daily life. How often are we physically present but mentally elsewhere?
In my work (and honestly, in my life), I see this pattern over and over. Our attention is constantly split between our phones, our to-do lists, and our mental timelines. We’re in the room, but not really in the moment.
The mountains reminded me that slowing down isn’t just about stopping; it’s about noticing.
If that sounds familiar, here’s a simple grounding tip I learned from Cheryl Close, MCC that helped me shift my attention back to what was right in front of me:
Take a deep breath and notice…
👀 5 things you can see
👂 4 things you can hear
🤚 3 things you can touch
👃 2 things you can smell
👅 1 thing you can taste
It only takes a minute, but that one intentional pause can change the way you experience everything around you.
Even if your mind wanders again a few minutes later, you’ve given yourself a moment of presence, a kind of mental snapshot that feels different from the photos in your camera roll.
The next time you find yourself somewhere special (or even just in an ordinary moment that you don’t want to miss), try it. See what happens when you trade capturing the moment for being in it.
A note for leaders:
The value of a leader is deeply tied to their perspective and their ability to observe. Fully focusing on what we are experiencing—whether it’s a challenging conversation, a strategic decision, or a quiet moment—shapes how we respond.
When we practice presence, we not only enrich our own lives, we become better listeners, clearer thinkers, and more thoughtful decision-makers. The same pause that lets us soak in a mountain view can also help us see opportunities, challenges, and people more fully.
In the end, great leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about noticing what’s right in front of you.
