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Tanis is a facilitator in the upcoming fall cohort of CPABC's Women'in Leadership Certificate Program, which begins on September 25.
She was a also presenter at CPABC’s PD Nexus Day: Business & Innovation Insights on July 25, 2024. A recording of her seminar, “What Matters Most: Power Tools for Focused Leaders Ready for Impact,” is available on-demand.
There’s nothing quite as magical as the distinct chirping of eagles calling to one another on a quiet summer morning. And as I watch them soar and turn on air, my world stands still—all noise, pressure, and striving drops away as I find myself mesmerized by their power and grace.
Eagles operate at a higher level. They’re able to zoom their focus in and out according to their needs, pinpointing targets at high speed and with great agility, all while warding off competitors. If you’ve ever seen an eagle set its eyes on breakfast far below in the water, you know what I mean. It’s no wonder these magnificent birds have been heralded throughout the ages and across cultures as symbols of vision and leadership.
My job is to help leaders and change-makers feel and operate like eagles. I spend my days supporting them as they harness the power of their most precious and powerful resource: attention. We tend to think time is what matters most, but it’s not—it’s our ability to manage and direct our attention. It’s the capacity to train our attention away from the places it may default to and toward something more fruitful—especially in chaotic times and circumstances.
Yes, as leaders, we need to show up in the thick of things, executing with power and grace. But we must also find the stillness of the eagle soaring above. It’s quiet up there, out of the fray and chaos, and that’s where clarity is found. As leaders, we need to find that space.
Two power tools to help you reset and gain clarity
As a longtime life and leadership coach, I’ve seen first-hand how two simple tools can reliably help leaders and change-makers develop eagle-like focus, clarity, and agility.
Tool #1: Stop, Look Up, Breathe.
This simple practice is the best reset button around! It helps interrupt autopilot and can shift your nervous system state, expanding your perspective while grounding you in the present. This puts you in a place of agency for moving forward.
Go ahead and try it right now! All it takes is five seconds, and you can do it anywhere. Stop, look up—whether at the ceiling or a cloud-filled sky—and breathe. How does it feel?
Try this practice anytime you’re feeling stuck, frustrated, or overwhelmed. I expect you’ll be astonished by the power of this pause.
Tool #2: Pause, Paper, Pen.
Speaking of which… I think it’s a tragedy that most of us now only pause to use pen and paper when writing to-do lists or meeting notes. There are so many more powerful and innovative ways to use these simple tools—from setting priorities and making decisions with confidence to managing mental health and navigating tricky relationships.
Chances are that you’re already good at making lists, so let’s use that super power for good! Here are two short lists you can write regularly to dramatically change your perspective and shift your attention to the right space:
List 1: What am I celebrating?
Pull out a pen and paper and pause to think about what you have to celebrate… from the last week or last year, about a current project or your team, or maybe about how you’ve shown up lately. Then write it down.
Make this a recurring practice and see what happens. See what shifts for you, and what new perspectives open up. Reflect on how you feel and how you show up in your life and leadership as a result. I suspect you’ll be delighted.
The good news is that this exercise gets easier with practice, and the insights you gain from it can inspire meaningful conversations both in the boardroom and at the dinner table.
List 2: What matters most?
Another impactful exercise is to ask yourself this simple question: “What matters most?” Choose only three things (yes, only three) and write them down. Then—and most importantly—act on the insights that emerge.
Identifying what matters most to you will enable you to align your actions to your values and put you on the fast track to thriving personally and professionally. Practising this, and seeing where it becomes difficult, will quickly show you what’s getting in the way of you living your best life.
Asking and answering this simple but profound question might become your greatest life and leadership tool, especially if you’re currently spread too thin, because it will help you dig deep where it truly matters. Powerful results will follow.
Soar to new heights
None of what I’ve described is rocket science, but these practices are based in neuroscience, so don’t discount them just because they’re simple. They’re also tried and tested, and the only way to find out if they’ll work for you is to give them a try. What do you have to lose?
If there’s one message I want to leave you with, it’s this: Your attention is your most powerful and most precious resource. Use the tools I’ve described here to master your focus and bring your attention to what will help you live and lead with more joy and impact. And finally, before winter comes, be sure to catch at least one eagle’s inspiring master class in the sky.
Tanis Frame, MSc, is a longtime facilitator and sought-after leadership coach. She is also a regular facilitator with CPABC’s Women in Leadership Certificate Program.
This article was originally published in the September/October 2024 issue of CPABC in Focus.
