Navigating Difficult Leadership Decisions with Shalini Bahl

One of the hardest things about being a leader is needing to make choices that will make someone you care about mad, no matter what you do. My guest for this week’s episode of Conflict Decoded, former Amherst, MA, town councilor and mindfulness teacher Dr. Shalini Bahl, knows this dynamic well. As Shalini shares in our conversation, to make wise decisions and move through challenging dynamics in our workplaces and communities, we need practices that help us shift perspective. We need support to help us shift from feeling threatened to facing a place of calm, compassion, and curiosity within. When we develop the ability to recenter ourselves, even when others project angry feelings or comments at us, we can expand our perception and develop more creative solutions to complex challenges.   SHOW NOTES Navigating Difficult Leadership Decisions with Shalini Bahl One of the hardest things about being a leader is needing to make choices that will make someone you care about mad, no matter what you do. One of the reasons we find ourselves in situations like this is that the predicaments we face nowadays are incredibly complex, with complex roots, requiring complex responses. And yet, the choices we face are often far too simplistic—yes/no, either/or. My guest for this week’s episode knows these predicaments well. Dr. Shalini Bahl Dr. Shalini Bahl is a former town councilor in Amherst, MA, town councilor and an award-winning author, researcher, and certified mindfulness teacher. As the Founder of Know Your Mind LLC, she blends timeless wisdom with insights from neuroscience and psychology to develop evidence-based mindfulness solutions for businesses, educators, and political clients. With over 15 years of experience and a background as an entrepreneur, business professor, and elected municipal leader, Shalini empowers individuals to disrupt default thinking and live with greater choice, purpose, and impact. A Shift in Perspective As Shalini shares in our conversation, to make wise decisions and move through challenging dynamics in our workplaces and communities, we need practices that help us shift perspective. We need support to help us shift from feeling threatened to facing a place of calm, compassion, and curiosity within.   When we develop the ability to recenter ourselves, even when others project angry feelings or comments at us, we can expand our perception and develop more creative solutions to complex challenges. Summary In this episode, mindfulness expert Dr. Shalini Bahl explores how mindfulness practices and compassionate leadership can transform conflict resolution and decision-making in both personal and professional life. Drawing from her experience as a town councilor, Shalini shares insights on navigating complex issues like environmental policy through mindful decision-making. She explains the importance of using curiosity and self-compassion to manage conflict and build understanding between opposing perspectives. Shalini highlights how mindfulness meditation helps leaders avoid binary thinking and instead embrace the complexity of problems, fostering more thoughtful and equitable solutions. Listeners will also learn practical techniques to apply self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and compassion in challenging situations. Shalini’s approach emphasizes the integration of mindfulness both on and off the mat, offering listeners actionable tools to cultivate inner calm and clarity in their daily lives. Key Topics: Mindfulness in leadership: How mindfulness guides effective decision-making The role of compassion in leadership and conflict resolution Practical mindfulness exercises for changemakers and leaders Self-compassion practices for recovering from mistakes and maintaining resilience Applying emotional intelligence to navigate difficult decisions How to foster empathy and understanding through curiosity