Episode 62: Practicing Mindful Leadership with Kris Lonsway

Kris Lonsway, Ph.D. is an organizational psychologist, executive coach, and speaker with over 25 years of experience helping leaders and executive teams navigate change, develop talent, and drive performance. She is the Founder and CEO of The Lonsway Group, which accelerates leadership and organizational effectiveness for a wide range of clients. Thousands of professionals have benefited from her coaching, workshops, and keynote presentations, as well as insights from her monthly newsletter, Mindset Matters, which shares practical leadership and self-improvement strategies. Her forthcoming book, Mindful Leadership, is a practical guide to self-awareness, self-leadership, and leading others with intentionality— helping leaders build resilience, trust, and influence while bringing out the best in their teams. Earlier in her career, Kris held leadership roles at BP, CME Group, ABN AMRO, Accenture, and a marketing start-up, always focused on helping people achieve their highest potential. Committed to giving back, Kris has served on multiple nonprofit boards and committees, including her local school board in the La Grange area, Community Memorial Foundation, and the Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter Research Committee. She is also the Founder and President of OptWell, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring health and wellness in Chicago’s western suburbs through education, access to resources, and social support. Kris holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Illinois and a B.S. in Psychology from Texas A&M University. She also holds multiple leadership coaching and assessment certifications. Outside of work, Kris is passionate about family, Alzheimer’s prevention, health & wellness, tennis, pickleball, and quality sleep.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why leaders need to be self-aware
The benefits of having a diverse team
Insights on healthy aging
A better way to grow your business
The power of feed forward

Lightbulb Moments:

Understanding that most leaders don’t fully know their own pain points or blind spots, and that self-awareness is the foundational skill for emotional intelligence and effective leadership.
Recognizing that founders often make the mistake of hiring people just like themselves, instead of building diverse teams that complement their skills and creating psychological safety for open communication.
Learning that 45% of dementia cases are preventable through lifestyle choices, and that proactive health strategies can significantly reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.
Realizing that business expansion isn’t just about scaling services, but about building relationships, providing value, and being willing to help others even without immediate financial gain.
Understanding the power of the “feed forward” concept – asking for ideas on improvement rather than dwelling on past performance, which creates a more positive and constructive dialogue.

A Quote To Remember

“Self awareness is one of the most foundational skills for all leaders and humans. In my opinion, it’s so critically important that it’s one of the main core skills for emotional intelligence.” – Kris Lonsway