On this episode, 5 Step to Becoming a Fully Present Leader, Benjamin teaches you how to maximize your moments for greater impact and how you can focus your attention better on the person in front of you, your team, your family, and the relationships that matter most. Most people underestimate how important it is to be fully present. Mastering this skill will change your life as a leader and the lives of those around you. No more blank stares, constant distractions, multitasking, or day dreaming, this is your time to step into the moments that matter, many of which you can’t get back once they’re gone. This isn't about fleeting attention—it's about the lasting power of truly being there for every moment. Being fully present, that’s what you need to do and what this episode is all about.
Episode Quote:
"You are missing moments with the people who matter most and you are missing opportunities because you are distracted and unable to shut out the noise and focus. Buying gifts for your family or your team, booking vacations, are not a replacement for your presence. Your presence is your present."
This episode, like all Rise and Lead Podcast episodes, is highly practical and motivating. Don't forget to subscribe to the Rise and Lead Podcast to ensure you get notified when new episodes release every month. When you share about the podcast, make sure and tag @benjaminlundquist, and he'll always try and give you a re-post. Remember, the best time to rise and lead is now!
On this episode, 5 Step to Becoming a Fully Present Leader, Benjamin teaches you how to maximize your moments for greater impact and how you can focus your attention better on the person in front of you, your team, your family, and the relationships that matter most. Most people underestimate how important it is to be fully present. Mastering this skill will change your life as a leader and the lives of those around you. No more blank stares, constant distractions, multitasking, or day dreaming, this is your time to step into the moments that matter, many of which you can’t get back once they’re gone. This isn't about fleeting attention—it's about the lasting power of truly being there for every moment. Being fully present, that’s what you need to do and what this episode is all about.
Episode Quote:
"You are missing moments with the people who matter most and you are missing opportunities because you are distracted and unable to shut out the noise and focus. Buying gifts for your family or your team, booking vacations, are not a replacement for your presence. Your presence is your present."
This episode, like all Rise and Lead Podcast episodes, is highly practical and motivating. Don't forget to subscribe to the Rise and Lead Podcast to ensure you get notified when new episodes release every month. When you share about the podcast, make sure and tag @benjaminlundquist, and he'll always try and give you a re-post. Remember, the best time to rise and lead is now!
Welcome to Rise and Lead. I'm Benjamin Lundquist, and this podcast is all about personal growth and leadership. Thank you for listening and for being a part of our Rise and Lead community. We are a community of leaders who are passionate about growth, leadership and expanding our impact on the world. On this episode five steps to becoming a fully present leader I will be teaching you how to maximize your moments for greater impact and how you can focus your attention better on the person in front of you, your team, your family and the relationships that matter most. Most people underestimate how important it is to be fully present. Mastering this skill will change your life as a leader and the lives of those around you. No more blank stares, constant distractions, multitasking or daydreaming. This is your time to step into the moments that matter, many of which you can't get back once they're gone. Being fully present that's what you need to do as a leader and that's what this episode is all about. The Rise and Lead podcast is designed specifically to motivate and equip you to live your greatest life with maximum impact. We are going to find out what makes great leaders great and how you can start growing yourself rise, expanding your impact, lead and living the life you have been created to live. We are stronger together and I want to personally invite you to be a Rise and Lead partner in spreading the word about this podcast and all the episodes that will follow, so together we can reach more people. Remember to subscribe to the podcast so you can get all the episodes that release every month. Rate the podcast I'm always going for a 5 star rating. If you think Rise and Lead deserves 5 stars, I would greatly appreciate that. Leave a written review if you haven't done so already. Your reviews. They make a huge difference. And finally, share about Rise and Lead with your family, your friends and your social media network. Screenshot this episode 5 steps to becoming a fully present leader and send it to someone, or text someone the episode link. You are helping people rise to their next level by connecting them to an episode. And when you share about the podcast as a social media post or story, make sure you tag me and I will always try and give you a repost. More input, ratings, reviews and shares help our team to continue creating a better podcast to serve great leaders like you. The podcast has hit 140 countries and that's because of listeners like you If this is your first time listening, welcome. I am so glad you're here and I would encourage you to go back and listen to the Rise and Lead Foundation episode so you can hear more about my story and the 5 foundational pillars of the podcast.
Speaker 1:I like to start each episode with prayer, so let's pray together. God, life is made up of thousands of moments, moments we can't afford to miss In a world of constant scrolling and endless distraction. We need to be fully present. Thank you for being fully present with us. When we call on you, you are there. Use this episode to cut through the noise and help us to see the people that matter most. Amen, amen.
Speaker 1:As we launch into this teaching, I'm going straight for the pain point. You are missing moments with the people who matter most and you are missing opportunities because you are distracted and unable to shut out the noise and focus. Buying gifts for your family or your team, book and vacations are not a replacement for your presence. Your presence is your present. Let me say that again your presence is your present. You won't get back these moments. Once they're gone, you'll have more moments, but you won't get back these exact moments again. I won't get back the moment to sit on the edge of my daughter's bed, ask her about her day, laugh with her and close out the evening with prayer. Some of you may be thinking I wish I had time to do that, and the truth is you do. Put your phone down, turn off the TV, stop checking your email or your social media and lean into these little moments that she'll never forget.
Speaker 1:Dan Widerer, chicago Tribune Sports Writer, writes about Michael Jordan's last game with the Bulls. I found this write-up interesting, especially since I met Michael Jordan when I was a kid. In the minute of his final game with the Bulls, he tapped into his preternatural micro focus. Jordan didn't stress over Scottie Pippen's badly wrenched back. He didn't fear a three-point deficit on the road with 41.9 seconds left. He didn't fret over the 20 shots he had missed. That night, as the needle of his fuel gauge drifted toward E, he just dialed in on each moment, one after another the driving layout, the hatchet steel from Carl Malone, the iconic jumper, the team's final defensive stop, the bliss of his last championship. I had faith. Jordan told Phil Jackson on the court minutes after the final buzzer. I had faith. Every time we were close, I knew we were going to do it.
Speaker 1:The Bulls were in major danger, but all Jordan could see was a path to victory. He was low on energy but full of self-confidence. He was down to his final few grains of sand in an exhausting 14-year odyssey with the Bulls, yet he remained completely present. Dan continues. The struggle to be present is real. Some people handle that better than others. In the final episodes of the Last Dance, it was rare air author Mark Van Sill who hit the nail on the head. Most people struggle to be present. People go and sit in ashrams for 20 years in India trying to be present, do yoga, meditate, trying to get here now. Those people live in fear because we project the past into the future. Jordan is a mystic. He was never anywhere else. His gift was that he was completely present and that was the separator.
Speaker 1:As a leader, the person in front of you doesn't know what you were dealing with a moment ago, nor should they. It's your responsibility to show up and be fully present, to effectively use the limited time you have with each person you meet. There's a direct correlation between a leader's mindfulness and the well-being and performance of their people. In other words, the more a leader is present with their people, the better their people will perform. Focusing on what's happening right now is the definition of present leadership.
Speaker 1:Before we dive into our five steps to becoming a fully present leader, I want to share a few thoughts on the correlation between your peace and your presence. Here is the truth your ability to be present is directly related to your level of peace. You can't sit with someone, be with someone, see someone, hold space for someone and love someone If you don't have peace in your life. Sure, you can be there physically, you can look like you are present, but your mind will be somewhere else. We've all been around someone who was there but not there. What do I mean by your peace? Your life needs to be in order. Your faith needs to be grounded. Your marriage needs to be healthy and growing. Your physical body needs to be rested and on a trajectory toward increased health and wholeness. You need a life-giving circle surrounding you with motivation, inspiration and support. Your finances need to be trending towards security. Your kids need to speak well of you when you are not with them. The more ordered your life is, the more peace you'll have and the more present you'll be. Being a fully present leader is so much deeper than the approach you take with somebody at a coffee shop or in a meeting. It's about the foundation you build your life on. The more ordered your life is, the more present you'll be.
Speaker 1:Here is my approach to ordering my life. I think about controllability. If I am in complete control of something, I take full responsibility. No casting blame and no making excuses. If I have partial control, I do what I can personally do, and if I have no control over something, I surrender it to God and let it go. I order my life based on controllability. When I am taking full responsibility for what I can do, I have the freedom to be fully present as a leader. I carry no regret, guilt or distraction into transformational moments because my life is ordered and I am grounded. Rather than slouching, crossing my arms and literally closing in on myself, I assume a more balanced, uplifted, open and inclusive posture. I sit up straight with my arms open because I am confident in my foundation and I get it. You can have an ordered life and tragedy will still strike. Stress will still come. There will be days when you feel completely overwhelmed, but the more ordered your life is and the more secure your foundation is, the more present you will still be able to be.
Speaker 1:Let's dive into the five steps to becoming a fully present leader. Step number one order your life. Step number two adopt a best. Days are now mindset. Step number three bring your future life to the present moment. Step number four focus on the one thing Don't multitask. And finally, step number five build heroes. Order your life.
Speaker 1:We touched base on this already. You need to be as ordered as possible so you can be as present as possible. Control what you can control. Be intentional with your own life. Replace chaos with calm. No, you can't control everything. Unexpected things will always come up. But remember you are an owner, not a renter. Renters leave things broken and run down because someone else is responsible, but you are not a renter, you are an owner. You need to take responsibility, do the work and maintain the quality of your home. No one else can do that for you.
Speaker 1:Unordered life is a stress less life, not a stress free life, but a stress less life which sets you up to be more present. Adopt a better. Days are now mindset. Operate from gratitude and thankfulness for what is happening. Now, as a leader, you get to invest in your people. You get to lead this team. You get to bring this vision to life and you get to steward this moment in history Instead of approaching life as if the best days are ahead of you. Approach life like the best days are now, rather than constantly looking forward and missing what is happening in the present. Lean into this moment, this moment with your family and this moment with your team. Bring your future life to the present moment. Everything you are doing now is building the future you want. Imagine how you wanna develop your people and your team, the investment you wanna make in the people who matter. Every moment is significant, because every moment builds the future. This isn't just another random memory with your family. This isn't just another random conversation or meeting. This moment is an investment in your future.
Speaker 1:Focus on the one thing Do not multitask. A leader has an intrinsic ability to multitask. Wear many hats and do it all in stride. However, there comes a time when multitasking and thinking about other duties, tasks or projects can lead to mistrust or a lack of empathy, as perceived by your employees, those you mentor, your team or even your own family. Those in front of you deserve your undivided attention. Turn off your notifications and put your phone away. Multitasking in front of someone is not a sign of productivity. It's a sign of disregard for the value of what is happening right now. Culture has accepted the practice of multitasking.
Speaker 1:You are different. You are a fully present leader. Put your phone away and be fully present and finally build heroes. Leaders are hero makers. You are prioritizing the story of the person in front of you more than your own story. Don't listen to respond, listen to understand. Let me say that again Don't listen to respond, listen to understand. A fully present leader isn't focused on sharing their own success stories. They are focused on helping other people be successful. Repeat, clarify, ask questions and put the spotlight on the hero you are building. You are secure. You don't need to build yourself up with glory and success stories. You are about building others up. You are a leader. You are a hero builder In review, order your life.
Speaker 1:Adopt a best. Days are now mindset. Bring your future life to the present moment. Focus on the one thing Do not multitask and finally build heroes. Focusing on what's happening right now is the definition of being a fully present leader. Keep an eye in the future, but keep your focus on the present. The people in front of you need you. I hope this episode impacted and inspired you. Send me a DM and let me know. I read every message that comes in. Make sure you screenshot this episode five steps to becoming a fully present leader. Share it with someone and post it to your social media accounts. Don't forget to tag me so I can give you a repost. I know there is someone you know who needs to hear this episode. Thank you for sharing, subscribing and rating the podcast. Seriously, that means the world to me. Look for new episodes to release every month. You won't wanna miss those. Thank you for taking the time to invest in yourself. You are worth it. Remember, the best time to rise and lead is now.