Skip to main content

Author: Burkhard Bensmann

How Do You Start Your Day?

Written by Burkhard Bensmann on . Posted in News.

I don’t know how you start your day, but I have always wondered how I can create a powerful and focused beginning to my workday.

Instead of “getting up, checking my smartphone, being driven by incoming messages, and forgetting what I actually wanted to accomplish that day,” I have found a different approach.

In my search for the right morning routine, I studied (and tested) Brendon Burchard’s concept, which involves starting the day with numerous questions. However, I found it too time-consuming and complex.

So, I asked myself: What is sustainable for me? What are the essential elements I can use to ‘prime’ myself each morning for the day ahead?

Below is my personal approach. Feel free to test it for yourself and adapt it to your needs.

The Four Questions I Ask Myself Each Morning

1. FOCUS: What is most important today?

I review my calendar and notes to identify the one most relevant task for the day. What requires my full attention? Where must I avoid distractions?

2. PEOPLE: Who do I want to support today?

This could be a conversation, a short message, or an email. Shifting the focus to others helps us avoid becoming too self-absorbed.

3. GOALS: What will I do today to move toward my mid-term goals?

It helps to keep mid-term goals visible. Revisiting them frequently reinforces them in our minds. What specific action can I take today to get one step closer to a key goal?

4. MESSAGE: What do I appreciate most about my life today?

I take a moment to reflect inwardly. What am I truly grateful for? Not just on a surface level—what deserves my attention and mindfulness today?

Before asking myself these four questions, I always reflect on the previous day:

• What went well?

• What needs improvement?

• What ideas, insights, or wishes emerged?

However, I do not use this routine on weekends, vacations, or when I’m sick—this helps maintain a clear distinction between work and downtime.

Outlook

The new episode of my English podcast, “Self-Leadership with Dr. Bensmann,” will be released on February 2nd. The topic: The episode is called “Control Your Life with The Seven Fields of Self-Leadership.” I will show you how self-leadership helps you stay focused, make better decisions, and take charge of your future. You will learn my proven Seven Fields Model—key areas that will help you lead yourself first so you can lead others effectively. Are you ready to take control and create real impact?

Start the New Year with Mindfulness and Planning

Written by Burkhard Bensmann on . Posted in News.

With this final update of the year, I want to encourage you to end the year on a positive note and prepare for the year ahead. For me, the annual planning day has been a fixed appointment in my calendar for years.

Here’s what it includes:

  • Reflection and Appreciation: Make a list of your achievements and check your goals.
  • Pause and Assess: Continue as is, or is it time for a change? What advice would your 85-year-old self give you?
  • Recalibrate: What should you keep doing, change, start doing, or stop doing altogether?
  • Goals: Recap your mission, revisit your vision, and check whether your goals still align with what brings you satisfaction. Is your goal-setting system still appropriate?
  • Set a Motto for the Coming Year.
  • Follow Through with Suitable Rituals.

At this point, I also want to emphasize the importance of mindfulness and gratitude as central elements for personal development and overall well-being.

I firmly believe that mindfulness helps us stay present in the moment, enabling us to observe our thoughts and emotions with awareness. Gratitude, on the other hand, fosters a positive mindset, encouraging us to focus on what is going well rather than dwelling on the negative.

Regular mindfulness practices—such as meditation or mindful breathing—help calm the mind and promote clearer thinking. Gratitude exercises, like keeping a gratitude journal, can cultivate a positive outlook and improve overall well-being.

These practices can be especially helpful during stressful times, enabling us to find inner peace and balance.

Outlook

In January, I will launch my new English podcast, “Self-Leadership with Dr. Burkhard Bensmann.”  I’ll be happy to keep you updated and look forward to your feedback!

Also in January, I will be offering individual coaching sessions on Lanzarote and, of course, continuing to work on podcasts and other publications. Stay tuned for more!

For now, I wish you a successful conclusion to 2024 and a wonderful start to the New Year!

Strengthening Mental Well-Being Through Self-Leadership

Written by Burkhard Bensmann on . Posted in News.

Our health is a valuable asset—especially our mental health. Inspired by “World Mental Health Day” this month, I’d like to encourage you to take a closer look at your own mental well-being with this update.

In effective self-leadership, it is wise to take full responsibility for our health and care for ourselves accordingly. This includes finding ways to strengthen our resilience, for example.

Key Concepts for Mental Well-Being

Resilience:
The ability to endure challenging life situations without lasting harm. Resilience means not only getting back up but also emerging from crises stronger, having developed new skills or attitudes.

Mental Toughness:
Similar to a fitness program, it helps you prepare for extreme situations. Mental toughness enables us to remain calm and act effectively when things get tough.

Mindfulness:
An essential component of self-leadership and well-being. Through mindfulness, people can better manage their thoughts and emotions, staying focused on the here and now.

Serenity:
A state of inner peace achieved through conscious relaxation techniques and a positive mindset. It’s about reducing stress and focusing on what truly matters.

Practical Applications

In my lectures, coaching sessions, and podcasts, I offer concrete tips and techniques to help develop these skills and emerge stronger from challenging times.

Further Reading & Support

For further reading, I recommend my book Self-Leadership: The Key To Being Productive, filled with practical tips for enhancing personal effectiveness. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

One important note: if you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please seek professional therapeutic support.

Warm regards,
Dr. Burkhard Bensmann

Numbers, Data, and Facts: A Source of Perspective

Written by Burkhard Bensmann on . Posted in News.

Are you, like me, a fan of numbers, data, and facts? I often find myself diving into studies, books, and podcast episodes that broaden my perspective and provide fresh insights.

In my work, current numbers, data, and facts play a significant role. Properly interpreting data requires a blend of methodical approaches and critical thinking. Several effective methods support this process:

  • Data visualization
  • Qualitative and quantitative analyses
  • Data literacy
  • Continuous reflection and adjustment

Perception, Self-Leadership, and Communication

The way people perceive the world is heavily influenced by their self-leadership and communication. I believe it’s essential for entrepreneurial individuals and leaders to reflect on and shape their own perceptions and thinking patterns.

Our view of the world is shaped by our experiences, values, and beliefs, yet these are not solid facts.

In my consulting and workshops, I encourage participants to:

  • Broaden their perspectives
  • Remain open to new ideas and approaches

This fosters personal growth and leads to better collaboration and innovation within organizations.

Indicators of a Fulfilling Life

In the realm of self-leadership and personal effectiveness, measurable indicators can guide us. Alongside (business) success, I believe these indicators also—or perhaps especially—include the criteria for a fulfilling, “good” life.

  • What should guide us?
  • What are the indicators of a good, fulfilling life?

In my current book, Self-Leadership: The Key To Being Productive, I dedicate a whole chapter to precisely these indicators of a good life. Among other things, I examine the approaches of Positive Psychology (Wellbeing) and the OECD’s Better Life Index.

Currently, my six indicators or conditions for “wellbeing” are:

  1. Creativity / Expression
  2. Using and Developing My Talents
  3. “Me Time”
  4. Making a Contribution
  5. Lightness
  6. Constructive Relationships

I regularly ask myself what my own conditions for contentment are. And, as you might expect, I check many numbers, data, and facts to answer this.

Warm regards,
Dr. Burkhard Bensmann

Finding Focus: Summer Reflections for Leaders

Written by Burkhard Bensmann on . Posted in News.

It’s summer, vacation season—a time often associated with relaxation and slowing down. But for many leaders, being “on” is constant, even during holidays. This busyness, however, doesn’t always equate to happiness.

If this resonates with you, here are some tips on how to pause and truly recharge.

Rituals for Recharging

To break free from the state of constant activity, rituals are essential. They act as intentional pauses, fostering mindfulness and focus.

  1. Meditation, prayer, or similar forms of being with oneself and focusing:
    Practiced daily, these rituals enhance our ability to be fully present in whatever we do. In other words, they help us stay focused.
  2. Journaling:
    Taking time to pause, organize thoughts, and gain some distance from daily life.
  3. Gratitude Rituals:
    In conversations with successful entrepreneurs, I’ve learned that they reflect on the day each evening, consciously recalling events they are grateful for. A gratitude journal is also helpful for this.
  4. Changing perception through travel:
    “Travel is a draught from the fountain of life.” ~ Christian Friedrich Hebbel. For me, traveling always feels like a mental switch. New impressions create new connections, both internally and externally. Physical movement often brings about mental movement, too.

Reflecting on Your Work and Life

The breathlessness of our turbulent times is often highlighted in pop culture—and it also characterizes how many organizations operate.

Still, perhaps you can use the summer months, aside from your vacation, for a relaxed reflection on your current work situation.

Consider these questions for contemplation:

  • What is truly important in my life right now?
  • What do I want to spend more time on in the future?
  • What am I ready to say STOP to?

Greg McKeown, bestselling author, offers this as a guiding decision-making principle:
“If it’s not a clear YES, it’s a clear NO.”

Warm regards,
Dr. Burkhard Bensmann