Self-awareness as foundation for situational awareness

Mo argues leaders need self-awareness first to perceive raw reality and share insights effectively.

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In this episode, Rich sits down with Mo Edjlali, mindfulness innovator, entrepreneur, and founder of Mindful Leader. With more than 25 years of cross-industry experience, Mo has helped shape how mindfulness is applied in the workplace. His book, Open MBSR, reimagines the future of mindfulness in organizational life.

Together, Rich and Mo explore the intersections of mindfulness, leadership, and strategy—examining how leaders can build self-awareness, navigate paradoxes, and bring greater presence to their decision-making.

If you're curious about how contemplative practices can influence performance and leadership, this conversation offers practical insights and powerful reframes.

🔑 Key Quotes:

“The practice of mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment with openness and curiosity.”

“Just turn off the noise and be alone with your thoughts. And there's no excuse not to do that.”

“I think it's very difficult to have situational awareness if you don't have self-awareness. And if you do have situational awareness, but you don't have self-awareness, then it might be difficult to share what you've discovered in ways that are effective and that rally folks around.”

“I'm a staunch advocate for this idea of dialectic thinking to get us to just remember that idea of balance, almost like the yin and the yang… We have to find balance, to think in paradox, like we could accept who we are fully and we could want to become a better person.”

💰 Practice Makes Profit:

Leadership inconsistency is one of the top reasons employees leave organizations. Just as athletes want referees to call the game consistently, teams want their leaders to act with clarity and stability. One powerful tool? Leadership principles. These short, actionable statements help guide how leaders show up and make decisions — every day. By practicing them consistently, leaders build trust, foster alignment, and create the conditions for lasting performance.

🧠 League of Strategic Minds:

Listener Question: How do you define leadership?

Leadership is the ability to set a clear direction and support others in achieving shared goals. Great leaders don't just chart a path — they equip their teams with the tools, training, and guidance to succeed. If you'd like to submit a question for this segment, visit strategyskills.com. Selected entries receive exclusive Strategic Minds swag.

🏆 Winsights: Ideas for Advantage

Today’s Winsight comes from David Novak, former CEO of Yum! Brands:

“Take time to reflect. It’s the stillness that leads to the action.”

Strategic thinkers don’t just do — they pause. Set aside 30 minutes each week to step off the activity treadmill and ask yourself: What am I doing? Why am I doing it? How could I do it better? The stillness might just be your biggest advantage.

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