Turning our Workplace Mind-Full-Mess into Mindfulness
Mindfulness is an ancient practice of bringing about improved awareness, and more recently, a prescription for reducing stress. Many HR Practitioners, health and wellness resources and news articles are suggesting we consider the benefits of Mindfulness in our workplaces.
Mindfulness is proven to decrease stress, anxiety and depression, and increase performance, creativity, focus and memory. This provides an opportunity for the organization to improve employee wellness, interpersonal relationships and communications, company culture and even begin to reduce work related incidents.
Now with a list of remedies like that, it’s a NO BRAINER that business is paying attention! Add to that, a relatively low implementation cost, MINDFULNESS is really starting to get the attention of all companies BIG and SMALL. In the past it was the BIG and INNOVATIVE companies (Google, Nike, NBA) that were looking to Mindful Leaders like Jon-Kabat Zinn, for mindfulness training. They wanted to build winning teams, and co-create a new paradigm for health and well-being in their employees. They recognized their investment in employee wellness and how deeply related it is to attracting and retaining quality and competent people. With the competition HIGH in this current and future labour markets; companies are working harder than ever to keep great employees.
In his book, Overworked and Overwhelmed: The Mindfulness Alternative, author Scott Eblin reminds readers that we practice being mindful when we are, “aware and intentional – aware of what’s going on around you, aware of what’s going on inside you as a response to what’s going on around you, and intentional about what you’re going to do next.” Any person behaving in this fashion stands to gain a great deal from her/his personal experiences. Eblin adds there is also a business case for being fully present; if you’re not, “you’re not going to do your best work.” Therefore, supporting the needs of employees wishing to incorporate mindfulness practices into their workday is a win-win for all stakeholders.
Evidence is clear… Profit and Productivity are deeply tied to HUMAN CAPITOL and business is quick to improve Return On Investment. Leadership that nurtures Workplace Culture and Employee Wellness is the WINNER in this high stakes game of business. If you are looking to strengthen the case for a Mindfulness program in your organization, here is a great resource for building the case for mindfulness in the workplace.