Leadership: How To Gain Balance Of Mind

We all tend to want something and strive for something. When we really want something, we definitely lose our mental balance, because we crave something that is not there.

Success companions. 

All people, to one degree or another, tend to rush to extremes. In other words, depending on the latest news or circumstances, we are constantly moving up and down a certain ladder, at one end of which is euphoria, and at the other - depression and despondency. However, climbing too high or descending too low, based on what's going on, is dangerous, especially if we become addicted to the euphoria of excitement that often accompanies success.

Obviously, attachment of any kind has drawbacks, but the habit of being in an elevated emotional state gradually leads to the fact that a person begins to experience negative feelings such as sadness, disappointment, and irritation more often. In essence, this state is similar to a pendulum: the more you swing it in one direction, the further it will deviate in the opposite direction.

Balance of mind is a state in which both good and bad are perceived equally, as something transient.

Does this mean that you need to deprive yourself of the joy of life's ups and downs? In no case! You can enjoy what you like without allowing an all-consuming, obsessive desire to develop. You will also react more calmly to what you do not like, without falling into anger and aggression.

Equanimity of thought means relinquishing attachment to positive experiences rather than the experience itself.

Peace of mind gives harmonious, calm contentment and happiness, much more positive than sharp rises to a state of euphoria and fall to pain. It also allows you to effectively manage yourself and others.

Leadership. 

To understand how mental balance contributes to effective leadership, the authors of the book spoke with Manish Chopra, a senior partner at McKinsey. This leader worked hard to find peace of mind. How did his balance of mind affect his approach to leadership?

All leaders know this: all problems become yours.

Equanimity of mind helps me find very different ways to deal with difficult situations. The loss of an important client, a delay in a promotion, or a personal problem of a subordinate who needs sympathy - in the past, I perceived all these cases differently, reactively. Now my mind is calm and balanced in every situation, so I react thoughtfully and effectively.

Doesn't a leader's greater poise mean that he somehow loses the desire to succeed in his business? In other words, is a balance of mind compatible with a thirst for achievement?

Serotonin and dopamine. 

The ability to successfully solve difficult problems, along with the growth of ambition, benefits every leader. However, to achieve peace of mind, it is not enough just to believe in its power. You can't just say, "From now on, I don't intend to depend on pleasant euphoria and excitement," and not experience these feelings anymore.

You are ecstatic and there is nothing you can do about it.

Fortunately, maintaining peace of mind depends on how well you are trained to respond appropriately to various situations in life. Difficulties begin when the leader achieves considerable success - say, sells a large batch of a product or closes a big deal. Naturally, he is happy and excited. Unfortunately, even after a brief euphoria, the pendulum will immediately swing in the opposite direction. Moreover, having experienced such an experience, you crave to repeat it more than once. This desire is associated with the action of dopamine.

At this point, you are like a person trying to quench their thirst with salt water: the more you drink, the more thirsty.

Another neurotransmitter, serotonin, also has a strong effect on our bodies. This neurotransmitter suppresses the impulsivity of the reaction, promotes relaxation and clarity of thought. The action of serotonin and dopamine are linked. With a balanced level of both hormones, we enjoy a delicious meal, or a glass of wine, or a victory at work, but do not depend on positive emotions. Serotonin compensates for the negative effects of dopamine, which allows us to remain psychologically stable in any situation. And the more you train to resist impulses, the more balanced the effect of dopamine and serotonin on the body becomes.

Equilibrium. 

Maintaining a balance of mind - and taking care of yourself - requires discipline on the part of the leader. You will have to learn to do what will be good for you in the long run and avoid impulsive actions that, although they make you feel better immediately, do not bring benefits.

When you feel an impulsive desire to feel euphoric, pause for a second to gain stability and balance.

Determine which events at work bring you instant satisfaction, and which cause discomfort. Notice and note your reactions to these events and continue to hold back, purposefully limiting and delaying the satisfaction of pleasant experiences and more actively resisting negative ones.

Strive for balance by paying attention to how you respond to good, bad, and neutral. Try to notice what you like and don't like; which situations are attractive to you, and which cause fear and rejection.

By being aware of your reactions, your behavior will change. Desire decreases because you understand it in part. The same applies to rejection: awareness reduces this feeling. You neutrally observe pleasant and unpleasant experiences, without becoming attached to the former and without exaggerating the negative assessment of the latter.

Real happiness is not to be euphoric, but to achieve a balance of mind and peace of mind, adequately accepting life's ups and downs. Balance gives self-confidence and increases psychological stability. In doing so, you become kinder to yourself and others. This state allows you to be quite content with what you have without clinging to it; Appreciate success without becoming dependent on it. And this is truly one of the greatest gifts a leader can receive.