One under-utilized, completely free tool that helps you show up sharper, calmer, and more effective?
Meditation.
“We have a saying here at Rocket Lab that we have no money, so we have to think. We've never been in a position to outspend our competitors. We just have to out-think them. We have to be lean and mean. If I had to boil it down to one succinct thing you could put in an article, I would say it's being ruthlessly efficient and not making mistakes.”
— Sir Peter Beck
(When building rockets, a "no mistakes" mindset makes some sense, just make sure you're kind to your mind in the process.)
And it’s not just for work. Meditation helps at home, school, and even to just make your next walk more enjoyable. Relaxation exercises like mindfulness meditation can actively contribute to making anywhere you are a happy place to be.
For a moment, think back to your last chaotic exchange.
(Don’t spend too much time there.)
Now imagine the opposite: one where you feel calm, focused, and present in your body.
By starting a brainstorming session with a shared pause and a little stillness, suddenly, ideas start flowing with ease.
Doesn’t that sound great?
It reminds me of another phrase that I’ve kept in my work journal for the last few months: Confidence follows decisive action.
Leadership, like life, is pressure: constant decisions, multiple streams of communication, the weight of each choice landing back on your desk. Getting good at managing change is part of the job; so is navigating some level of uncertainty with creativity and enthusiasm.
“Most decisions should probably be made with somewhere around 70% of the information you wish you had. If you wait for 90%, in most cases, you’re probably being slow. Plus, either way, you need to be good at quickly recognizing and correcting bad decisions. If you’re good at course correcting, being wrong may be less costly than you think, whereas being slow is going to be expensive for sure.”
— Jeff Bezos
Incentivize Creative Teams with Meaning, Not Perks
“Do the right thing, not just the most measurable thing.”
— Audrey Liu
I’ll admit group meditation feels awkward when done poorly. But moments of stillness together builds trust and aligns the group for better collaboration.
A few principles on what makes it work – especially in creative team environments:
- Brief: 3–7 minutes is enough to reset, not enough to lose attention. You want to create a feeling of relaxation, not yawning.
- Inviting: There’s no “right” way to meditate. Everyone should feel welcome to join in a way that feels safe and is a comfortable experience.
- Guided: A calm voice offering simple cues keeps everyone engaged, and helps wandering minds redirect back to a peaceful state.
- Grounded: Gently shift focus to breath and body to anchor attention in the present.
Set the Vibe
Small adjustments create the right atmosphere for team building through mindfulness:
- Pick a quiet moment. Try it during the first five minutes of the meeting to ease the transition.
- Silence notifications. Pings and buzzes break focus; ask everyone to pause them.
- If remote, cameras are cool but optional. It fosters presence but should be optional for privacy and accessibility.
- Crank the tunes – softly. Soft ambient sounds can enhance relaxation. Need a rec?
- No pressure. Participation is personal. The goal is invitation, not expectation.
Free Meditation Script for Teams
Here’s a simple guided meditation you can adapt for your next creative meeting (in about five minutes):
Sit in a relaxed position in your chair.
Let your hands rest on your lap or the table, palms of your hands facing up.
If you're comfortable, close your eyes, or let them rest in a gentle gaze. (You can look towards the tip of your nose.)
Take a deep breath in… and slowly exhale.
Feel yourself connected to your seat or touching the ground. Feel the soles of your feet.
Another deep breath in through the nose… out through the mouth.
Continue at your pace.
Allow your shoulders to drop, your jaw to loosen, your hands to relax.
Notice how you feel. Don’t judge. Acknowledge.
If thoughts arise, that's expected. There's a lot of traffic.
Could you imagine them contained in a moving car?
Now let that car drive past. Return to your breath. At your pace.
Feel your body supported by the chair or the earth. Feel the rise and fall of your breath.
If you notice tension, breathe into it. Hold it. Let it soften as you exhale.
Now, set an intention for the next 30–60 minutes.
Make it personal to you, so you can leave feeling good. Is your intention to feel energized? Accomplished? Restored? Connected?
Choose a lane that feels right to you.
Take one final deep breath – together. Exhale slowly.
Let your breath return to its natural rhythm.
When you’re ready, return your attention to the room.
Wiggle your fingers, toes, eyebrows.
Roll your shoulders and open your eyes.
Give a few moments of quiet before jumping into the agenda, allowing folks to wiggle out any remaining tension.
You might say:
Welcome back. Thanks for taking that moment together. Let’s carry this feeling of calm, creative energy forward.
This small transition bridges mindfulness at work with your next action and keeps the vibes rolling.
🌈 Creative Fuel ⛽
How will you prioritize your brain this week?
Peace,
Andy
Artist + Founder Creative Taxi Ltd. 🚕🫧
Move your ideas forward.
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“We have to talk about liberating minds as well as liberating society.” — Angela Davis