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Women of Distinction

move would be”. Pam found a through the process, but they want to react, we discuss how breaths, create that space and
three-day intensive Mindfulness have to put it into practice.” you ground yourself so that you then decide how to respond.
performance program called “When I started Intention to can be present in the moment Often you don't even realize how
mPEAK that was developed and Action Leadership, I didn't want and you don't just react. Many much you do that. It is a habit
being taught at UCSD, and so it to be just mindfulness. I bring people are not good at this. They that you need to consciously be
she enrolled. “I went for myself, it into my coaching as much as want to jump in, and they want aware of so you can break this
loved it, and left knowing this possible, because I think it's so to interrupt, or they want to solve habit. It takes time and I think it's
was a program that could really powerful and I think it's a differ- the problem. I teach my clients recognizing what your relation-
help others in their personal and entiator today, because there is how to ground and how to sit ship is to your phone. For most of
professional lives.” The mPEAK so much coming at us and we with discomfort. Not a painless us it is a pretty intimate one.”
program she explains is mindful- are a very global, there is more process for most people.” One of the little tricks Pam
ness plus taking the foundations diversity at work. You can't just Sometimes when she mentioned in breaking the
of mindfulness, using the neuro- be a boss anymore, you've got introduces these concepts to an phone habit is to remove most
science to support the learning, everybody watching you, you've executive, they ask Pam to share programs from your phone and
and experiential practices along got social media, your employ- the concepts with the entire just make things a little harder to
the way in order to get to a high- ees, and society watching you. organization. “It just varies based do on your phone. For instance,
er level of performance. You have everything coming at on what the needs are. I think everything doesn't have to be
During the three-day retreat you, and so how do you show up that there are a lot of mindful an automatic login or face scan.
Pam decided to stay and contin- for yourself? How do you show leadership programs right now If you have to stop to enter a
ue with the coaches training and up for others better?” that over promise, and I'm very username and password, you
chose this direction in her career With Pam’s 25-year founda- cautious about that. To me, if you will wait until you are at your
transition journey. While making tion of executive leadership and want to bring mindfulness into computer to check those sites. I
the move to California Pam her knowledge of mindfulness, an organization, it can be part of can see this being a great way to
started the coach’s certification she has the perfect mix to help your wellness plan, but it should cut down screen time.
training for the mPEAK program correct some rudimentary prob- not be forced. “As a leader, you need to
through UCSD. lems that management execu- It is an incredibly powerful set parameters regarding your
Today Pam couples her years tives face daily. The tools she gets tool that you can offer to your phone. If an employee texts,
of coaching employees to be from mindfulness are the tools leadership and to your associ- and you immediately respond,
their best, along with the essen- that really make a difference in ates. But it's not a panacea. In the regardless of the time of day or
tial elements of mindfulness, to today's world. organizations where it starts at night, it becomes a habit and
run Intentions to Action Lead- Pam works with small and the highest levels and its founda- they expect you to always react
ership, her extremely successful large businesses and is relatable tion continues through the entire that quickly. Another good rule is
Executive and Organizational to both because of her exten- leadership team, it has the po- to remove all notification sounds
Leadership Coaching firm. sive experience in executive tential of producing substantial from your phone, so the tempta-
I asked Pam to give us a quick Management. “I can be relatable results. The results are not only tion is not there to immediately
primer on what mindfulness is to those larger companies that in increased productivity, better respond. Remember that you
all about and how it works in her have hundreds to thousands of collaboration, and reduction in teach people how you want to
coaching business. “What I work employees and how they show turnover. It is by far one of the be treated. So, you need to be
on with clients and organizations up right for them. Working as greatest wellness benefits that the one to set the rules.”
is, how do you bring mindfulness a leader today in business has an organization can offer to their Having spent some time with
in so that you have a higher level extensive pressures, considerable employees. Pam, it is obvious that she really
of performance. How do you demands, and in many cases Since we had an opportu- loves working with people who
use it so that you move from fewer resources. I get those pres- nity to speak with one of the want to develop a better way for
instantly reacting to a situation, sures since I can utilize my past top Executive Leadership and themselves to be more inten-
to understanding what is being experiences, while including my Mindfulness coaches in the area, tional. “I think anybody, whether
said and responding normally to training in mindfulness. It gives I had to see if she could inspire us you're a leader of your own life,
it? I do a lot of training on what is more depth insight and relatabil- all to pay more attention when it your family, or in an organization,
showing up. How to allow some ity to the coaching process that came to reacting to those around can use mindfulness in their lives.
space for what's showing up and I offer.” us. Pam offered the following, "I I often get introduced to people
how you can move from being Has bringing the mindful- would say awareness, space and in their professional lives, but
reactive to a more responsive ness piece into her coaching grace. Be aware of what is hap- they find that what they learn
level of leadership.” increased her success. “Yes, mind- pening. Allow space to absorb has such incredible implications
In essence her clients come fulness probably has the worst it and give yourself some grace. for their personal lives as well.”
away understanding themselves PR campaign in the world. Some One thing that we really try to Thank you, Pam, for being an
better and paying more atten- people think mindfulness is just emphasize in mindfulness is that inspiration to us all and showing
tion to what’s going on around meditating and they relate it to we must be open, non-judgmen- us how important it is to live in
them and others' reactions and the many pictures you see out tal, and be in the moment. Pam the moment with intention and
feelings. Pam doesn’t change there with people sitting in this shares how our phones are a real mindfulness. For more informa-
their mindset, but she gives them Lotus position with their thumbs example of how challenging this tion or to begin working with
the tools and understanding to in the air on a desk somewhere. can be today “I think we have all Pam, contact her today.
change their own mindset. “I Often when I introduce it from a experienced the impact that our
think the big differentiator is that basic standpoint of gaining in- phones have on us. No matter Email: Pam@intentact.com
you really have to do the work. sight into how your brain works, what we are in the middle of, Mobile: 916-626-2419
You have to do the practice, you you can learn to successfully use you get a text, or an email and https://intentact.com/
have to take the time to see it, these tools. We talked a lot about you immediately feel the need https://www.linkedin.com/
and then you have to put it into what to do when you're having to respond. Instead, you need company/intentons-to-actions-
play. I teach the basic under- a hard conversation and you're to realize that you can take a leadership/about/
standing, and I guide my clients looking at them and you don't minute to pause, take five deep

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