I work with a lot of leaders. Many are owners and leaders of small to medium sized businesses. I know you worked hard, very hard to see your dream become a reality. All that work can blind us to the very things that we need to live and enjoy life – to enjoy your success! As a small or medium-sized business owner or leader, your day is filled with tasks that demand your attention: meetings, emails, employee concerns, financial statements, deadlines, and countless other operational responsibilities. It can be overwhelming as urgent things steal time from valuable things. Here’s one of those valuable things, even priceless things that you don’t want to overlook: the importance of taking time to enjoy beauty.
I admit that the idea of “enjoying beauty” might seem irrelevant or even frivolous in the high-stakes world of business. Yet, there is profound value in making space in your schedule for beauty, whether it’s in nature, art, or moments of personal reflection. In fact, this practice can positively influence your mental health, creativity, leadership abilities, and overall success.
Since variety is the spice of life, here are eight reasons why taking time for beauty is not only a wise choice but a necessary one for business owners and leaders.
- Stress kills: People, Collaboration, Creativity, Communication, Performance. Kill stress with Beauty as a Path to Rest and Restoration
In the fast-paced world of small and medium-sized businesses, it’s easy to become “burned out.” Burnout is a state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged stress and overwork. Entrepreneurs are especially susceptible to this condition because they are often the driving force behind every aspect of the business, from strategy to execution.
Taking time to enjoy beauty—whether it’s a walk in the park, viewing a work of art, or simply sitting quietly and appreciating the world around you—acts as a counterbalance to the stresses of work. It gives your mind and body a much-needed break, which in turn allows for mental restoration.
Restorative practices are essential for maintaining optimal cognitive function, making sound decisions, and ensuring emotional balance. Exposure to beauty can evoke feelings of peace and calm, lowering stress levels and rejuvenating your energy. This restoration can then translate into greater productivity and a more focused mindset when you return to your work.
- Beauty Sparks Creativity and Innovation
As a business owner, creativity is often a key component of your success. Whether you’re solving problems, innovating within your industry, or creating marketing campaigns, creative thinking is crucial. However, as noted, the stress of the demands of running a business can stifle this creativity, leaving you feeling mentally stuck.
Taking time to enjoy beauty can unlock your creative potential. Researchers have shown that experiencing beauty, whether through nature, art, or music, activates areas of the brain associated with inspiration and imagination. For instance, taking a walk outside and observing natural landscapes can provide a fresh perspective and spark innovative ideas that you might not have considered in the office.
The value of beauty lies in its ability to stimulate the mind and open up new pathways of thinking. By stepping away from the grind and allowing yourself to take in the beauty of the world, you allow your brain to relax and make connections it wouldn’t otherwise make. This can result in breakthrough ideas and fresh approaches to challenges you’re facing in your business.
- Enhancing Emotional Intelligence and Empathy
Leadership is first and foremost about people, not strategic decisions or hitting profit targets. Leadership research continues to affirm that effective leadership requires emotional intelligence (EQ)—the ability to understand, manage, and influence emotions in yourself and others. Taking time to engage with beauty can actually improve your emotional intelligence, which directly impacts your leadership abilities.
Here’s what’s going on. When you take the time to appreciate beauty, you’re practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness helps you to be fully present in the moment, enhancing your awareness of both yourself and others. By engaging with beauty, you learn to slow down, focus, and connect emotionally, whether that’s through a piece of art that evokes deep emotions or a sunset that prompts feelings of awe.
This increased emotional awareness can make you a more empathetic leader. Empathy is what I call the “crown-jewel” of leadership skills. You’ll be more attuned to the emotional states of your employees and customers, which can improve your communication, foster trust, and build a more positive workplace culture. Empathetic leadership is often more effective in the long term, as it motivates employees and creates a sense of shared purpose and connection within the business.
- Reducing Stress and Preventing Burnout
As noted, stress is a major issue for business owners. The constant pressure of making decisions, managing finances, leading a team, and ensuring growth can take a serious toll on mental and physical health. Long-term stress is linked to numerous health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and weakened immune systems.
By regularly engaging with beauty through things such as nature, art, or music, you can reduce the physical and psychological effects of stress. Studies have shown that exposure to beautiful surroundings—such as spending time in nature or visiting a museum—can significantly reduce cortisol levels (the hormone associated with stress) and promote relaxation.
Taking time to appreciate beauty is like a reset button for your body and mind. It interrupts the cycle of stress, providing a mental and emotional “break” that allows you to recharge and refocus. Manage your stress through regular moments of beauty and you can avoid burnout while maintaining your energy for the long haul.
- Improving Decision-Making and Problem-Solving
Business decisions require careful thought and analysis. Whether you’re deciding on an investment, solving a problem with a client, or evaluating your company’s direction, the quality of your decisions directly impacts your business’s success. Believe it or not, engaging with beauty can actually improve the quality of your decision-making.
Research has shown that exposure to beauty can enhance cognitive functioning and improve problem-solving skills. So, take a moment to enjoy a beautiful view. Immerse yourself in a piece of art. Beauty can give your brain the space it needs to process information more effectively. In a sense, beauty helps clear mental clutter, allowing you to think more clearly and make better decisions.
What’s more, the experience of beauty can help you view problems from a different angle. Just as appreciating art requires seeing it from multiple perspectives, stepping back and engaging with beauty can provide new insights and solutions that might not be immediately obvious when you’re too close to a situation.
- Encouraging Mindfulness and Presence
In the business world, it’s easy to be consumed by the constant cycle of tasks and responsibilities. Many entrepreneurs and leaders spend their days trying to multitask, jumping from one task to the next, and worrying about the future. This “always-on” mentality can result in a disconnection from the present moment, over taxes our brains, and ultimately decreases productivity and satisfaction. In effect, you are working harder and accomplishing less!
Taking time to enjoy beauty can help you practice mindfulness and be more present in your daily life. Mindfulness—the practice of focusing on the present moment without judgment—has been shown to improve mental clarity, reduce anxiety, and increase overall well-being.
When you pause to appreciate beauty, you force yourself to slow down, to stop and notice the world around you. This moment of pause can help you step outside the pressure of your to-do list and reconnect with yourself, allowing you to approach your work with a fresh, focused perspective. The pay-off is that you will work easier and accomplish more!
- Building a Positive Company Culture
As a leader, your values trickle down into the culture of your company. If you prioritize productivity at all costs and ignore the importance of personal well-being, your employees will likely follow suit, leading to burnout and disengagement. On the other hand, if you model the value of taking time for self-care and appreciating beauty, you can cultivate a workplace culture that values balance and creativity.
Encouraging y
our employees to engage with beauty can foster a positive company culture that prioritizes both work and personal growth. Consider organizing events or initiatives that encourage your team to experience beauty together, such as visiting a local art exhibit, participating in outdoor activities, or simply having moments of quiet reflection during the workday.
By making beauty and personal well-being a core part of your business’s values, you help create a work environment that promotes creativity, happiness, and long-term success. Employees who feel valued as individuals will be more motivated, engaged, and loyal to your company.
- Strengthening Personal Fulfillment
Finally, enjoying beauty is not just about improving your business—it’s also about nurturing your own sense of fulfillment. As a business leader, you probably spend a lot of your time focusing on the needs of others: employees, clients, investors, and stakeholders. However, it’s equally important to remember that your own well-being matters. Engaging with beauty is a way to nourish your soul and remind yourself of the deeper, more meaningful aspects of life.
Find your sources for beauty: a favorite piece of music, a cherished painting, or simply the beauty of a quiet moment in nature, beauty helps you reconnect with what matters most. Beauty provides a sense of joy and satisfaction that goes beyond business success, leading to a more fulfilling life overall. When you feel personally fulfilled, you bring that positive energy and outlook into your work, which can benefit both you and your business in the long term.
Conclusion
I get it. I’m trying to run a business as well. Our life as a small or medium-sized business owner is demanding and filled with challenges. However, taking time to enjoy beauty—whether it’s through art, nature, or music—offers profound benefits for mental, emotional, and physical well-being. By engaging with beauty, we can reduce stress, spark creativity, improve decision-making, and cultivate a positive company culture.
Moments of beauty aren’t just a luxury—they are an investment in your long-term success, both personally and professionally. So, the next time you feel overwhelmed by the pressures of running a business, remember that taking time to enjoy beauty can help you recharge, refocus, and return to your work with renewed energy and clarity.
Incorporating moments of beauty into your routine is not only an opportunity for self-care but a powerful way to enhance your leadership and business outcomes. Don’t underestimate the importance of beauty in your life—it’s a key ingredient in the recipe for success.
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If you want to discuss any of these topics or explore how coaching can bring clarity to your life and role as a leader, let’s connect!