Different approaches to leadership and employee productivity are emerging. Target, General Mills, Google, and Green Mountain Coffee have attributed improved company and employee performance, in part, to mindfulness practices in their companies. Messages around mindfulness, being in the moment, cultural integration, cultural of kindness, mindfulness at business have continued to gain momentum.
What is applied mindfulness? Principles to improve decision making, work space design, and personal or team effectiveness. Mindfulness is choosing how to respond not react to people/situation. It is about learning to connect to yourself and improve your way your react to people and situations.
These mindfulness practices may include, but are not limited to, meditation, energy healing, yoga, Tai Chi, or other methods. Mindfulness practice is about supporting overall health and well being, improved creativity, better communication tactics and lower stress levels. It doesn’t stop you feeling emotions, it allows you to deal with them more dispassionately. I believe mindfulness help us to stay focused on what really matters and help us to make better decisions . Your business’s productivity grows when employees increase focus, improve decision-making, unlock creativity, more engaged, more energized, focused and improve teamwork skills — all qualities enhanced by mindfulness.
Ask yourself these questions:
1. Are you always multitasking, have constant
distractions, and over-dependence on technology?
2. Are you on autopilot with work, driving, life?
3. Having challenges with internal and external communication? customers, patients, families, your employees, administration?
4. Are you accepting, understanding and compassionate towards others?
5. Can you adapt to rapid market, boardroom level and customer changes?
6. Do you let fear take over ? If it does anxiety will too.
If yes to the above questions consider Mindfulness strategies. Here are some tips to help you approach those challenges in the office and at home.
1. Try a three-minute breathing space. Start with one time and work you way up in time/duration
2. Your mind will wander off – that’s fine, that’s what minds do. When that happens, gently bring your thoughts back to whatever it is you’re doing and congratulate yourself for noticing your mind has wandered
3. Whatever comes up, just notice it, explore it, turn towards it and gently let go, without judgment, but with curiosity and compassion.
4. Take breaks-pauses during your workday
5. Walking mediations, meeting breathes
6. Email mediations
7. Have compassion, kindness for yourself first
8. Gratitude toward yourself and others
9. Respond, don’t react. Taking a moment to reflect will allow you to rid your mind of clutter and distractions while letting you consider a less critical, more flexible approach to whatever situation must be addressed.
10. Bring focus to a situation. The people around you may become caught up in the chaos of an emergency, but mindfulness will help you bring a sense of focus to a problem that might otherwise be lost in the craziness.
11. Pick an activity that you do most days or every day, such as eating breakfast or travelling to work. Choose something you have to do anyway, but set the intention to be mindful when doing this activity.
12. Bringing your attention to the present moment – not dwelling in the past or planning for the future. Instead, being open to and curious about what emerges.
Start with yourself and incorporate into your departments’ daily strategies. What could happen? Happy , healthy, and productive employees and you!
Passionately,
.
MARSHA DIAMOND 