In a world that constantly bombards us with challenges, deadlines, and multitasking, it’s no surprise that many of us feel overwhelmed and burned out. This sentiment resonates deeply with our host, Dr. Heather Walker, and countless others, like us, seeking ways to navigate the chaos of life while maintaining balance and achieving peak performance. In the latest episode of the Lead with Levity podcast, Dr. Walker delves into these issues with esteemed guest Pam Marcheski, a peak performance coach with vast experience in senior executive roles at Fortune 500 companies.
The Overwhelm
Dr. Walker opens the episode by addressing the common denominator in our hectic lives: feeling overwhelmed. From conversations with clients, friends, family, and community members, one thing remains clear—everyone is grappling with stress and fatigue. The feeling of being ‘fried’ and the desperate wait for the weekend is all too common. This episode aims to offer solace and practical strategies for those struggling to manage their energy and mindset in such a demanding environment.
Introducing Pam Marcheski
Pam Marcheski is no stranger to the world of high performance and intense schedules. As a coach and former senior executive at multiple Fortune 500 companies, Pam brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to the table. Her calm presence and insightful guidance promise to offer listeners valuable tools and techniques to tackle their anxieties and achieve balance.
Presence and Mindfulness
One of the key points Pam makes is the importance of presence—being truly aware of where we are, both in mind and body. In today’s hyper-connected world, we often find ourselves physically present but mentally drifting away. By practicing mindfulness and paying attention to what’s capturing our focus, we can devise strategies to better manage our time and emotions.
The Challenge of Modern Work Environments
Pam shares her journey from her early years at Sears and JCPenney’s, describing a continuous transition and adaptation. Meetings, constant traveling, and back-to-back schedules were the norms. Despite these challenges, she learned to incorporate moments of mindfulness into her day.
Pam highlights a critical shift: decades ago, natural boundaries existed between work and home life. That world is now long gone, and with the genie out of the bottle, we must learn to set intentional boundaries in our mind and physical presence to remain present.
Mindfulness in Action
Pam’s pivotal moment wasn’t triggered by burnout but rather by a desire to improve her interactions and presence. Her introduction to mindfulness came through Dan Harris’s book “10% Happier,” which taught her to focus on being present momentarily throughout her day and set intentions for her behavior and responses.
For busy executives, Pam recommends simple yet effective techniques: taking a minute to breathe before meetings, taking slow walks between meetings, and consciously incorporating moments to reset and breathe throughout the day. The idea is to make mindfulness easy and accessible, even amidst a packed schedule.
Finding Space and Grace
Pam advocates for creating ‘space’ and ‘grace’ within our daily routines. This means recognizing that the long-gone natural boundaries need to be consciously replaced with intentional practices that allow us to disconnect, even momentarily, to recharge.
Facing the Modern Work Dilemma
Dr. Walker raises a familiar scenario—competing priorities and the overbooked calendar. Pam’s advice is to get comfortable with discomfort and recognize the importance of prioritizing tasks. She encourages playing with the concept, experimenting with eliminating low-risk tasks to observe the impact, and being strategic about scheduling to enhance overall effectiveness.
Building the Muscle of Performance
Pam likens high performance to developing a muscle: we need to exert effort but also allow time for rest and recovery. Continuous exertion without adequate rest leads to diminished performance and eventual burnout. Therefore, incorporating intentional rest and levity into daily routines is crucial.
Bringing Levity to Work
Bringing fun and joy into our lives is essential to keeping our energy high and preventing burnout. Pam shares tips like listening to loud, uplifting music, dancing, and even engaging in creative exercises like improv to add levity and playfulness to her routine.
What Lies Ahead for Pam Marcheski
Pam continues to teach courses on peak mindful performance, helping executives integrate mindfulness into demanding roles. Her goal is to help individuals achieve their highest potential through internal leadership, balancing it with external strategies and performance metrics.
Conclusion
This episode of Lead with Levity podcast profoundly emphasizes the importance of mindfulness, presence, and intentional living. Pam Marcheski’s insights offer valuable takeaways for anyone struggling with the pressures of modern-day life. From busy executives to overwhelmed parents, there’s something in her message for everyone. Take a step back, breathe, and remember—mindful leadership can make all the difference.
To learn more about Pam Marcheski and her work with M Peak, visit her website at intentact.com or connect with her on LinkedIn. Let’s take the first step towards balancing our lives and leading with levity!
Pam Marcheski is the principal owner of Intentions to Actions Leadership, a company specializing in mindfulness-based leadership. She has 25 years of experience as a senior executive in Fortune 500 companies, leading teams of over 1,000 employees and managing billions in business. Pam now focuses on coaching individuals and organizations in operational excellence, leadership development, and strategy implementation.
Her coaching approach combines practical experience with certifications in mPEAK (Mindfulness, Performance, Enhancement, Knowledge) and Marshall Goldsmith’s coaching methods. As a certified Executive and Organizational Leadership Coach, she excels in helping leaders align their intentions with actions through customized coaching.
Pam is an active member of the Harvard Medical School-affiliated Institute of Coaching, SHRM, and Women’s Leadership Institute. An alumnus of the Executive Leadership Institute and Leadership California, she has worked with executives from NASA, Raley’s, Black Hills Gold Utility, Mary Kay Cosmetics, TSA, Sempra Infrastructure, Chevron, and Leadership California. Pam resides in San Diego, California, close to her adult son.
