Leadership Excellence Podcast with Tom Lawless & George Trachilis
Welcome to another powerful episode of the Leadership Excellence Podcast, where hosts Tom Lawless and George Trachilis explore the practices, principles, and mindsets that help leaders elevate their performance and influence. In this episode, The Calm Leader – 5 Powerful Ways to Clear Your Mind Before Every Conversation, Tom and George reveal the simple but transformative habits that allow leaders to enter every discussion with clarity, presence, and intention.
Great leadership is not just what you say—it’s the energy and mindset you bring into every interaction. When your mind is scattered, stressed, or overloaded, the quality of your communication drops instantly. But when your mind is clear, your leadership becomes calm, grounded, and effective.
In this episode, you will learn five essential practices:
Discover why three steady breaths can reset your nervous system, calm your thoughts, and help you enter any conversation with presence.
Explore how silencing the noise—digital, physical, and mental—signals respect, builds trust, and dramatically improves the quality of your listening.
Learn how a simple question—“What outcome do I want for this person?”—can reduce defensiveness, sharpen your communication, and align your tone with purpose.
See how dropping assumptions and approaching conversations with curiosity creates psychological safety and deeper understanding.
Understand how taking just 30 seconds between interactions prevents emotional carryover and keeps you steady throughout the day.
Throughout the episode, Tom and George share personal leadership stories, coaching insights, and real-world lessons that bring each practice to life. You’ll also hear practical examples from the construction industry, executive coaching, and team leadership—showing how these practices apply across all roles and environments.
Whether you’re a seasoned executive, a new manager, or someone committed to becoming a calmer, more intentional leader, this episode will give you the tools to transform how you approach every conversation.
A leader’s effectiveness is directly tied to the quality of their conversations. When you control your inner world—your breath, focus, intention, and mindset—you create stronger relationships, reduce friction, and inspire trust. Becoming The Calm Leader isn’t about being passive; it’s about being fully present, emotionally intelligent, and aware.
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5 Powerful Ways to Clear Your Mind Before Every Conversation
Three steady breaths before any conversation helps reset your nervous system and brings your attention fully into the moment.
Distractions distort presence. Removing them shows respect, improves listening, and increases connection.
Asking yourself what outcome you want for the other person changes your tone, approach, and clarity.
Entering conversations with curiosity instead of assumptions fosters trust and psychological safety.
A short pause between conversations prevents emotional carryover and keeps you mentally clear throughout the day.
