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Forbes

Leadership Lives In The Now: 5 Tips On How To Stay Present

Jim Becker is CEO of Becker Logistics LLC. Most of the leaders I know are lost in time. They're replaying old mistakes like highlight reels of regret or fast-forwarding into futures packed with assumptions, plans and what-ifs. They think doing this provides some kind of control without realizing that control only exists in the now. All you have is the now. And if you're not careful, you'll miss the only moment that actually matters. The only moment you can make an impact and where you can gain understanding to move forward. The Cost Of Leaving 'The Now' When you live in the past, your decisions often come from guilt or nostalgia. You end up dragging outdated lenses into new opportunities, trying to apply past patterns onto what you are currently working on. On the other hand, when you're stuck in the future, you lose track of the plot. Everything becomes about what's next, not what's now. And, unless you execute correctly in the moment, there may not be a next. Which makes all your planning a complete waste of time. The result of all this? Disconnected conversations. Missed red flags. Teams that don't feel seen. And a version of you that's physically there but mentally checked out. Your Power Is In The Present You can't act in the past. You can't know the future. The only levers you can actively pull are the ones in front of you right now. It is now, the moment you are reading this, that you have the power to make change, to make the decisions that will get you to your desired state. Presence builds trust with your team. In leadership, it's not just a personal habit; it's a cultural signal. When you're present, others feel safe to be, too. You transform a room of people trying to define and visualize success into a room of people succeeding. My Personal Wake-Up Call I used to think being a visionary meant living in the future. Always planning, always strategizing. But I started to notice I was missing things, the real things that were impacting my business in the now. I'd have conversations where I wasn't really present. I'd sit in meetings but leave with no sense of connection or understanding. Worst of all, I was around my family but not really with them. My brain was in a pitch deck while my body sat at the dinner table. Then one day, a manager started talking about a conversation we'd had the week before about some new project that they were leading, something that was a great opportunity, and I had no recollection of it because it was not in line with the future that I was in. That's when it hit me: I wasn't leading from the present. I was trying to lead from the future and only listening to those who were speaking in alignment with that one particular vision. And it was really starting to show and impact those around me. That was the moment I knew something had to shift. How I Stay In The Present Here are the tools I use daily to keep me anchored. A few times a day, I pause, take notice and make sure that I am still on track and staying in the now. It's simple, but powerful. I've used sticky notes, computer backgrounds, calendar events and alarms on my phone to remind myself to check in. I have notebooks upon notebooks filled with the details of all the meetings I am in. This ensures that I am paying attention and retaining the information. However, there's a fine line between taking note of the key details and trying to get down every word said at the expense of your attention. Make sure you are not overdoing it. Everything is planned on my calendar, both work and personal events. This is not to restrict me, but to free me. When I know what's coming up, I don't waste energy worrying about it, trying to think about what I need to do next, or trying to figure out when I last worked on something. Multitasking can be presence poison. You are training your mind to split its attention instead of focusing on just one thing. When I can, I try to do one thing at a time. Whatever is in front of me. It sounds basic, but the more I focus on what's in front of me, the better I lead. I still drift. Everyone does, and that's just a fact of life. But now, I have systems in place to catch myself. To bring myself back into the present. Then, instead of beating myself up, I use that moment to learn and grow. That awareness is a win. Beyond Business Living in the now and being in the present isn't just about leadership. It's about life. Being present isn't only for boardrooms or Zoom calls. No, it's for those quick morning chats with your kids, the way you greet your partner at the end of the day, even how you answer the phone. Leadership presence starts with human presence. And you can't outsource showing up. Not at work. Not in life. All You Need Is Right Now The present is uncomfortable sometimes. It asks for your full attention. But it's also where the magic happens…your leadership, your connection, your actual life. Not tomorrow. Not after your next milestone. Right now. Start here and start making an impact. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?