Be Where Your Feet Are

A mindful case for taking employee wellbeing seriously—for the health of your people and your business.

A few weeks ago, a local small business owner was walking the production floor of his shop, something he hadn’t done much lately. Deadlines, client calls, and back-to-back meetings had kept him tethered to his laptop. But that day, he noticed something different.

A long-time employee—one of his best—was standing at her workstation, staring at a component but not moving. She wasn’t on her phone. She wasn’t chatting. She was just… there. Still. Eyes glazed. Hands idle. When he asked if everything was okay, she blinked a few times and said quietly, “Sorry, I’m just really overwhelmed right now. Didn’t sleep much. My head’s all over the place.”

It was a moment. Not a meltdown. Not a formal HR report. Just a human signal—a quiet flare—that something was off. And it made him realize: he wasn’t truly present. Neither was she. And maybe, no one else was either.

The Real Cost of Not Being Present

In small businesses, especially, the pressure to “go, go, go” can become the culture. Head down. Keep moving. Get it done. But without presence—mindful attention to your people, your pace, and your priorities—you don’t just lose morale. You lose productivity. Creativity. Collaboration. You lose the glue that makes small teams resilient.

“Be where your feet are” is a phrase that reminds us of the power of presence. It’s not just about slowing down. It’s about showing up—fully—in the moment you’re in. And it’s a leadership principle as much as a personal one.

Why Employee Wellbeing Is a Business Strategy

Let’s get to the heart of it. Supporting employee wellbeing isn’t just nice. It’s necessary if you want:

• Sharper focus and fewer mistakes

• Higher productivity and engagement

• Increased loyalty and retention

• More innovative, collaborative teams

  
  

And here’s what most leaders overlook: you don’t need a massive HR budget to make a meaningful impact. What you do need is intention. And presence.

When your team sees that you care—not just about performance but about them—you create psychological safety. That’s the foundation of trust, and it fuels every single business outcome that matters.

So, What Does Being Present Look Like in Business?

• Ask real questions. Not “How are you?” but “What’s your capacity like right now?”

• Take walks. Not figuratively—physically move through your space. Pay attention.

• Listen with your eyes. Notice the body language. The drop in energy. The small hesitations.

• Normalize real breaks. Burnout doesn’t happen in one day. But it builds without pause.

• Model it. If you’re always multitasking, stressed, or distracted, your team will mirror it.

Mindfulness = Better Business

Presence isn’t just a personal virtue—it’s a business multiplier. The more you bring your full attention to your leadership, your team, and your culture, the more you’ll unlock in return.

It starts with something as simple as standing still and asking: Am I where my feet are right now? And then: Are my people?

Because in business, like in life, everything meaningful happens in the moment we’re actually in.

If you'd like to create a healthier, happier work environment where your team can better thrive and collaborate, consider booking your free online ChooseWELL demo.