Introducing Mindfulness into the workplace requires a cultural shift
The world is changing very rapidly and the environment we live and work in requires permanent adaptation. Organisations are regularly evolving to better adapt to new business conditions and keep delivering the highest possible values to their clients. New IT tools are regularly introduced into the workplace which obliges employees to learn new skills. Those technological devices, to which we are deeply attached, produce information overload that can overwhelm us, which leads to mental confusion and undermines attention and concentration.
Time has become a very scarce resource. We spend our days shifting from one task to another, very often multitasking, on complete autopilot mode always thinking ahead and wondering how where the time went.
In that context, the practice of Mindfulness “paying attention in a particular way on purpose, in the present moment and non judgmentally,” can of course help.
But it is also an incredible challenge.
Imagine, delivering messages on the importance to find the right balance between being and doing in an environment where running around the whole day “like a chicken with its head cut off” has become the norm, requires quite a cultural shift.
The kind of messages I sometimes get when I run Mindfulness training in companies is that “it makes me feel better but I have no time to practice. My days are so full that I cannot afford being in that Mindfulness state”.
I can, of course, perfectly understand that kind of reaction and know where it is coming from.
But when we step back a little we can perfectly see that time is not the issue. Taking the time to focus on the breath for a couple of minutes per day, or making a quick check in with ourselves to see how we are doing (just to mention some mindfulness practices) should remain manageable even in the tightest of agendas.
All the well-known multinational companies that have introduced the practice of Mindfulness worldwide could find the time all while increasing their level of performance!
It means that the problem lies elsewhere.
Introducing Mindfulness into the workplace needs a cultural shift and we all know that developing new habits and making them sustainable in the long term requires time and patience.
Of course, as with all change practices, Management Committee has a key role to play not only because they need to be trained, but also because they must embody Mindfulness in their behaviour. The kind of posture they have, the overall impression they give, the way they communicate, manage meetings, behave under pressure,…
To operate a cultural shift employees must see visible and tangible signs that something different is happening and it can sometimes be as simple as changing the way meetings are held, for example. Starting each meeting with a landing practice so that everyone is really focused on the here and now, managing communication differently to ensure that everyone is listened to and feels confident enough to push new ideas forward. These are some simple actions that can be quickly implemented and nevertheless will have a real impact.
Introducing Mindfulness into the workplace is not another consulting trick but can really change the way people behave and interact and can have on the long term an impact on the bottom line.
There will be people who have a quicker fit with the approach than others, that is the reason why the first selected actions must be easy to implement even by people who do not yet truly believe in the benefits of Mindfulness. Needless to push.
It is a step-by-step approach where a visible commitment of the Management Committee is key and where one must ensure that the selected actions are implemented everywhere across the company.
Interested in saying goodbye to stress this year?
Start with our 6-week Mindfulness at Work program and discover the tools for stress management that have helped millions of people worldwide to become more serene and focused at work.
You can contact Michel directly at m.moutier@mlcadvisory.com to learn more about our Mindfulness at Work programs.