My corporate clients usually introduce mindfulness when there is a company-wide wellness event, or when they get endorsements from senior management. They are attracted to the evidence-based and secular (no religious affiliation) approach. Since mindfulness was introduced in a hospital context back in 1979, the documented and reproducible benefits apply in business environments too. My clients initiate mindfulness training by running a pilot/trial or designing a program to meet business objectives.
Getting started
I’ve been impressed with my clients that ‘walk the talk’ about the mental well-being of their teams. A company enjoys huge upside, with zero downside, when implementing mindfulness-based themes through wellness programs, or as skills or competency training. To get started, consider what your organisation’s immediate needs and goals are. Re-examine your company values and how the work culture currently supports such values. Finally, assess existing employee programs for effectiveness of helping staff nurture and demonstrate such values, in order to meet the urgent business objectives. Consider how the reported benefits of mindfulness can synergise, optimise or enhance such employee initiatives.
Benefits of mindfulness at the office
There are many well-researched and documented benefits of cultivating a mindful culture at work. For example, the Institute of Mindful Leadership points out how mindfulness addresses practical workplace issues. Its compilation of benefits for businesses including improvement in productivity, strategy and innovation, effective communication, and even working with difficult colleagues. Author & science journalist Daniel Goleman, & University of Wisconsin neuroscientist Richard Davidson reviewed published scientific studies and distilled four benefits from mindfulness: stronger focus, staying calmer under stress, better memory, & good corporate citizenship.
Most of my corporate clients aim to strengthen the mental resilience of their workforce. Meeting deadlines and achieving business targets are expected to be stressful, especially during times of economic uncertainty. On top of that, staff typically have to juggle family, health and other personal matters. To cope with stress, many well-known organizations such as Google, Goldman Sachs and Nike have sustained mindfulness programs for their staff. Less stressed-up executives means a healthier and more productive workforce.
Sustaining mental training
Having worked in admired companies, I know good decision-making and creative solutions are desired traits. Regular mindfulness practice helps calm down the sympathetic nervous system (commonly known as the fight-or-flight mode). Continued mindfulness training helps practitioners to see things clearly, despite the avalanche of market data, never-ending meetings and time pressures. Many of my students who are professionals regularly report feeling calm, clear-headed and rested. From such a grounded place, imagine the quality of decisions being made, and new ideas being generated. I wished I had learnt mindfulness techniques back in school to better prepare me for my adult life.
Next steps: Discover companies that have embarked on mindfulness at the workplace. Consult with the mindfulness trainer to explore a corporate workshop.
