By: R.J. De Rossi

Leadership. It’s a real uphill slog. If more days than not, you wonder if you can make it through, you’re not alone.

Leaders everywhere are on a quest for the secret to staying on top in a dog-eat-dog world—a competitive edge. But what if they’re looking in all the wrong places? What if the true edge isn’t in the latest digital-doodad or brand development strategy but in something perhaps subtler?

Sure, systems, resources, and tech matter. So does networking, marketing, and analytics. All tools. Important tools, but tools, nevertheless.

But a leader is more than a mechanic. A leader must be a visionary, problem-solver, peacemaker, life coach, and breadwinner—all rolled into one fragile, caffeine-addled human being. 

It’s easy to burn out.

I sought high and low for solutions to my own planet-sized case of imposter syndrome, decision fatigue, and communication struggles. What did I find? Machiavellian tactics everywhere: hustle culture, cutthroat competition, and cold efficiency.

It’s a recipe for exhaustion and toxicity—or worse, unethical practices in the name of the so-called bottom line—a soulless “success” playbook that prioritizes the Almighty Dollar over individual health and the larger social good.

But what if there were something gentler, more humane, and sustainable?

A single super-skill that can enhance mental clarity, performance, and emotional intelligence?

There is. And it’s as close as your next breath.

Leaders Who Meditate

LeBron James. Katy Perry. Barack Obama.

All household names with a view from the top. What do they have in common, besides fairytale success stories and worldwide influence?

What they possess is the contemplative edge. Meditation.

“Meditation,” says billionaire hedge fund titan Ray Dalio, “has been the single biggest reason for whatever success I’ve had.”

Oprah Winfrey not only meditates but also encourages her entire staff to learn.

At General Mills, former VP Janice Marturano turned to meditation to alleviate stress and grief, after the complex acquisition of Pillsbury and the death of her parents. Finding it profoundly helpful, she initiated a companywide program with over 400 executives participating. After numerous participants reported reduced stress and better leadership skills, the program became a permanent fixture.

Clearly, there’s an apparent link between meditation and success. But what does science say?

The Science of Stillness

Since the mid-20th century, research scientists have sought to quantify the ineffable experiences claimed by millions of meditators—the peace, the flow, the glow…

In the late 1960s, Harvard Medical School graduate Herbert Benson studied regular meditators, discovering what we all now know: reduced heart rate, lower blood pressure, and decreased muscle tension. The opposite of the effects of our usual stress response, or the fight or flight response. Benson wrapped his research in modern scientific language, calling it the Relaxation Response.

But, according to contemporary neuroscience, meditation also cultivates focus, creativity, and flow by strengthening brain areas linked to attention and problem solving.

The benefits aren’t just individual—they extend to group dynamics too. School meditation programs such as Quiet Time and MindUP report reduced violence, truancy, and dropout rates, along with increased well-being, GPAs, and graduation rates—a whole-person approach to learning in action.

So, what is this socio-biohacking wizardry?

A Simple, Effortless Practice

Meditation is the simple, effortless practice of diving within and encountering our limitless nature. Something extraordinary happens when we settle into the space beyond thought. It’s an end to our own mental tyranny and a refuge from outside distractions. It’s the nexus point to living in the present moment—the gateway to mental clarity and task efficiency. It’s also a blissful experience, offering both immediate and lasting benefits. You just function better. As I often say, “Meditation is me without the mess!”

So, where do we begin? First, pick your practice: mindfulness, yoga, tai chi, the Rosary, mantra meditation—whatever works, whatever resonates. The form of your technique doesn’t matter. In fact, Benson boiled the Relaxation Response down to two essential factors: one, a repetitive action, and two, a passive disregard for our usual train of thought. You just hop off the speeding bullet and enjoy the scenery for a while.

Two daily sessions—morning and evening—are ideal. If you’re a newbie, start small: try two minutes, slowly building up to 20- or 30-minute sessions.

When first practicing, your thoughts will be raging storms. Even experienced meditators need time to pierce through the initial layer of mental turbulence. I’ve been meditating for over 20 years, yet every time I begin to practice, my brain buzzes like a kicked hornet’s nest. Be patient. Be persistent. Above all, take it easy. The antidote to the harshness of ego chatter isn’t more harshness. It’s gentleness.

Like exercise, meditation requires routine. Its benefits are cumulative. Commit to the long haul, and watch your ideal life unfold—from inner fulfillment to stronger relationships to improved performance.

The Tao of Success

My own leadership journey hasn’t been easy—a steep, high-vertical trail dotted with dips and failures. At first, I struggled to find emotional equanimity and team flow, all while honing my field expertise. There isn’t a word strong enough to describe my misery.

My meditation practice carried me through. It steadied me. And, in turn, helped facilitate team coherence. It wasn’t competition or market analytics or micromanagement. It was cultivating a quiet mind, an open heart, and a collaborative mindset. All of which sprang forth naturally from a regulated nervous system and a fine-tuned neurobiology. Problems still existed, of course, but I danced with them differently.

In Taoism, wu wei is the principle of “effortless action” that arises from aligning with the guiding flow of nature—the Tao. This self-organizing feature of the universe is embedded in all of its parts. Through meditation, we soak in that vast ocean of peace and wisdom, so that, like a wet versus a dry sponge, we can do the work of cleaning up the stovetop grime with less strain.

No more hustle, cutthroat competition, or strongman strategies.

Just effortless action and a damned good feeling along the way.

Meditation: the contemplative edge. A quiet catalyst. And, quite possibly, the secret to leadership success.

R.J. De Rossi is an Amazon best-selling author and sought-after executive coach. Learn more at www.rjderossi.com.