Woo-Woo in the Workplace
Imagine your boss calls you and asks you to meditate as part of your job responsibilities. What would you think? What would you say?
Most people would laugh out loud at the absurdity of it. For many, the idea is simply un-imaginable. ‘Why would you ever waste your time on that? We have real work to do,’ they might say.
The perception is that meditation is too ‘Woo-Woo’ for the workplace.
Now, imagine this.. Your boss calls you in and asks you to be more mindful. What is your reaction? Most people believe they would love to be more mindful. Why?
The concept is that being mindful makes them more strategic, allows them to think better, and to make better decisions. Being mindful may even cause people to be more creative and innovative, and even improve how they feel about their jobs.
In fact, they are right! Mindfulness is proven to benefit our work output and personal well being in many ways. Here’s just a few! Imagine how these would positively impact your work?!
Mindfulness improves
* Concentration
* Thinking and processing speed
* Creativity & innovation
* Perception
* Decision making
* Strategic thinking
* Resilience and dealing with change
* Patience
* Emotional Regulation
In addition, mindfulness has proven to improve our physical health, improve our immune function and…. (drumroll, please!) Reduce stress!
Almost every single client we’ve worked with here at StrategyClicks wants their teams to develop many (if not all!) these skills and capacities.
Being mindful IS meditation.
mind·ful·ness
noun
1. the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.
2. a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.
med·i·tate
verb
1. think deeply or focus one’s mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation.
To think deeply or carefully about (something).
2. plan mentally; consider.
How is it okay for us to practice mindfulness at work, but we still shudder and laugh at the idea of meditation? Even as a culture, mindfulness is making its way into the mainstream. Look at the USE-OVER-TIME statistics for mindfulness and meditation on the web. What do you make of this?
I’m fascinated by the uprising popularity of mindfulness as a business and success strategy. Companies like Google are becoming as known for their commitment to internal ‘mindfulness’ training as they are famous for their products.