By Kathleen Hurtubise
Making the right decisions is only a fraction of leadership. To truly guide your company and employees forward, you need to be fully present—aware of both your own state of mind and the actual needs of your team. Mindful leadership is about consistently showing up with authenticity and awareness, moment by moment.
There’s a connection between how we communicate, the self-awareness we develop in the office, and how we create spaces for our teams to bond and grow. All of this, for me, is grounded in yoga—the physical practice, yes, but also its deeper philosophical tenets that teach us balance, honesty, and inner peace. Let me walk you through the pillars of mindful leadership I’ve built my career around, with yoga serving as my anchor.
Honest Communication
Honesty is one of the foundational principles of yoga, known as Satya—truthfulness. As a leader, this principle has shaped how I communicate with my team. Honesty doesn’t just mean telling the truth but also being transparent, direct, and clear about intentions, challenges, and goals. I’ve found that when communication is grounded in truthfulness, it removes unnecessary friction and allows for more genuine connections within the team.
In my early years of leading, I noticed that communication often felt transactional or rehearsed. We were hitting targets, sure, but the level of emotional depth and engagement was lacking. It was only when I started to prioritize open, honest dialogue—particularly in difficult situations — that I saw the shift. My team began to trust me more, not because I had all the answers but because I was willing to show up vulnerable, especially in moments of uncertainty.
Honest communication isn’t always easy, especially when the message is tough. However, I’ve learned through my practice that avoiding difficult conversations makes the situation worse. In yoga, we talk about non-harm, or Ahimsa, which means that even when delivering hard truths, we do so with kindness and the intent to uplift, not tear down. This has been a game-changer in fostering a culture where feedback is welcomed, not feared, and where everyone feels seen and heard.
Self-awareness in the Office
Yoga teaches us to cultivate self-awareness through the practice of stillness and or meditation. This has been vital for my personal growth as a leader. Before I can lead others, I must be connected to my own emotions, thoughts, and reactions. This awareness has allowed me to lead from a place of self-balance and stability rather than reacting impulsively to challenges or stress.
Self-awareness in the office is something I encourage within my entire team. I’ve introduced simple mindfulness exercises during meetings, where we take a few moments to breathe and center ourselves before diving into the agenda. This isn’t about creating a Zen-like atmosphere for the sake of it, although that completely makes sense. This exercise allows everyone to become fully present, to listen, and to respond thoughtfully rather than reacting out of stress or pressure.
Leaders, especially in high-stakes environments, can often feel like they’re being pulled in a thousand directions. Without self-awareness, it’s easy to become disconnected, operating on autopilot and missing opportunities for intentional interaction. In the same way that yoga teaches us to return to the breath, I’ve learned to pause in moments of overwhelm, to take stock of my emotional state and reground in self-awareness, and then proceed with clarity. It’s about showing up to every meeting and making every decision, grounded to the best of my ability.
This kind of awareness becomes contagious. My team now takes the time to reflect before making decisions, and I’ve seen how this leads to better collaboration and fewer knee-jerk reactions. Self-awareness in the workplace promotes a more thoughtful, empathetic culture where people feel empowered to bring their best, most authentic selves to the table.
Team Bonding Through Growth-Oriented Retreats
Some of the most profound growth I’ve seen in my team has come from taking them out of the office and into growth-oriented retreats. These retreats, often centered around personal development and yoga, have created an environment where vulnerability, trust, and creativity can flourish. Away from the pressure of deadlines and office dynamics, we’re able to reconnect with ourselves and each other on a deeper level.
These retreats are intentional spaces for growth. We explore mindfulness, yoga practices, and exercises that help us break through personal and professional barriers. It’s during these times that I see the strongest bonds form within the team. There’s something about shared vulnerability—whether it’s learning to sit and deeply breath to still the mind and energy or opening up about personal struggles—that forges deeper connections.
One particularly memorable retreat involved a three-day total immersion transformational experience where we focused on expanding our awareness and evolving our perception of ourselves through many exercices. I recall one team member, someone who had always been reserved in the office, sharing her story of overcoming a significant personal challenge. That moment of openness shifted the dynamics of our team. The walls came down, and we saw each other not just as colleagues but as humans navigating life.
These retreats, much like yoga, are about creating the conditions in moments and over time for transformation—both individually and collectively. They encourage us to face our fears, confront limiting patterns, and emerge with a greater sense of purpose and connection. In the end, this growth spills over into our daily work, as we return to the office more aligned and unified in our vision.
Sadhana for Inner Peace
Sadhana—my daily spiritual practice of yoga and meditation—serves as my spiritual anchor, grounding me in stillness before I navigate the turbulent seas of leadership every day. It’s my non-negotiable. This practice helps me set the tone for how I show up in the world, how I lead, and how I serve what is right in front of me..
Through my morning sadhana, I’ve realized that control is not what leadership is all about; it’s about service. Yoga teaches us to surrender the ego, to let go of the need to be right or in charge. When I approach my day from this place of allowing, I lead with humility, openness, and a willingness to listen. This doesn’t mean I shy away from making tough decisions—I’m all about results. However, I work to do everything from a place of clarity and collaboration rather than fear or ego.
Sadhana has also taught me the importance of consistency. Just as I return to my mat each day, I return to my leadership practice with the same dedication. Some days are more challenging than others, but the consistent practice itself is what matters. Over time, it has strengthened my ability to stay calm and to bring a sense of stability and peace to my team. It has shown me that emotions are ephemeral and that consistency and discipline are what matter. Yoga has taught me that inner peace is an inside job. Inner peace is cultivated through moment by moment awareness and a consistent return to the basic – center myself right here, right now.. As leaders, we set the energetic tone for our teams. If we are stressed, all over the place, or disconnected, that energy vibrates out through the entire organization. But if we cultivate inner awareness and groundedness in ourselves, it creates a foundation of inner power, inner trust, and inner resilience that everyone can lean into. They are leaning into themselves.
Leading with Mindfulness
Mindful leadership, anchored in the principles of yoga, has transformed how I lead and live. The beauty of mindful leadership is that it’s not about having all the answers or being perfect. Leadership is about showing up fully, embracing the moment, and leading from self. Yoga has been both a guide and a grounding force in my journey, and I continue to learn each day how to serve my team with more self-awareness, clarity, and purpose. This is the change I hope to bring into the world—one intentional breath at a time.
Kathleen Lin Hurtubise is the pioneering force behind AlohaHP, revolutionizing the staffing landscape with Hawaii's signature Aloha spirit. Founded on the promise of blending technology with deep-rooted Hawaiian hospitality, AlohaHP emerged as the contemporary answer to staffing, empowering professionals to design their work schedules and environments. Partnered with industry innovator, Steve Scher, AlohaHP's avant-garde approach crafts meaningful opportunities for diligent individuals passionate about making a notable impact on forward-thinking businesses.
AlohaHP's mantra, "Elevate, Empower, and Transform," signifies more than just words—it's a movement. We're on a mission to enhance not only our professional journey but also the businesses we collaborate with and the exceptional individuals we champion. A testament to her vision, Hurtubise's AlohaHP and other ventures have received accolades such as the National Association of Catering Executives award and multiple recognitions from Pacific Business News. A sought-after speaker and hospitality connoisseur, she continues to share her wisdom, having graced platforms like The Special Event conference and the East Meets West conference.
