{"id":11624,"date":"2020-05-07T21:06:04","date_gmt":"2020-05-08T02:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trainingmag.com\/the-impact-of-mindfulness-training-on-organizations\/"},"modified":"2020-05-07T21:06:04","modified_gmt":"2020-05-08T02:06:04","slug":"the-impact-of-mindfulness-training-on-organizations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trainingmag.com\/the-impact-of-mindfulness-training-on-organizations\/","title":{"rendered":"The Impact of Mindfulness Training on Organizations"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tA growing body of research shows that mindfulness training reduces stress and anxiety, improves attention and memory, and promotes self-regulation and empathy. It now is being integrated into forward-thinking organizations (https:\/\/wellness.huhs.harvard.edu\/Mindfulness<\/a>).<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tMindfulness training allows all employees to focus sharply on the task at hand, master peak levels of stress, and recharge quickly. On an organizational level, mindfulness reduces sick days, increases trust in leadership, and boosts employee engagement. The Wall Street Journal <\/em>reports that companies such as Goldman Sachs use mindfulness training because research shows that traders who applied their mindfulness training had greater increases in their portfolios than comparable traders who did not receive the training. Those receiving and practicing mindfulness training showed greater discipline in decision-making, especially during stressful periods. All this from practicing 15 minutes a day!<\/p>\n

\n\tCompanies that implement mindfulness training report the following benefits:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n\t\tStress reduction\u2014being proactive instead of reactive<\/li>\n
  2. \n\t\tEasier absorption of new information<\/li>\n
  3. \n\t\tIncreased creativity and vitality of new thoughts<\/li>\n
  4. \n\t\tGreater adaptability and problem-solving skills<\/li>\n
  5. \n\t\tBeing open minded\u2014mental agility<\/li>\n
  6. \n\t\tResilience\/self-motivated\u2014disciplined work ethic<\/li>\n
  7. \n\t\tEmpathy for others\u2014emotional intelligence<\/li>\n
  8. \n\t\tFocus and clarity of thinking\u2014avoiding distractions<\/li>\n
  9. \n\t\tProductivity\u2014looking at the bigger picture<\/li>\n
  10. \n\t\tAcceptance of the unknown\u2014higher acceptance of change<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \n\tWHAT IS MINDFULNESS?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n\tAccording to Global Dynamics Chief Mindfulness Officer (CMO) Saskia Meckman, \u201cMindfulness is paying deep attention to the world around you and within you, moment by moment. Mindfulness is being present\u2014in the here and now. By learning to become more present, mindfulness slows down the brain, allows us to observe, without judgement or analytical thought, our thoughts with acceptance. This allows us to notice experiences through our senses\u2014what we feel, taste, smell, hear, touch.\u201d While this practice has been around for thousands of years, organizations are only recently learning to pay attention to its importance.<\/p>\n

    \n\tWHAT IS THE SCIENCE BEHIND MINDFULNESS?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n\tMindfulness practices, such as breathing exercises and meditation, are associated with decreasing the size of the amygdala, the region of the brain that initiates a response to stress (fight or flight). This reduces the inclination to interpret an uncertain environment as a threat and, thus, react defensively. Research shows that mindfulness also decreases stress and regulates the body\u2019s level of cortisol\u2014the stress hormone.<\/p>\n

    \n\tAccording to Meckman, \u201cIdeally you want mindfulness to become a habit, a way of life. Meditation can change the structure of the brain. In the last 10 years, researchers have learned that habits make neuro connections in the brain grow stronger. With mindfulness training, we can train our brains, thus creating new connections, simply by concentrating on our breath and stilling our mind. When we watch our thoughts and emotions without reacting to them, we can begin to change our behavior, allowing us to be more creative and increase our self-confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \n\tHOW IS MINDFULNESS TRAINING DELIVERED?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n\tMindfulness training can take place in multiple ways. In-person training is ideal but not always practical. This training also is offered virtually and can consist of several sessions given over a short period of time. In the virtual mode, there is e-mail support between sessions, and participants are encouraged to practice their mindfulness tools and exercises. Encouraging \u201cmicro practices,\u201d such as taking a moment out of a busy workday for a few minutes to focus on one\u2019s breath, allows the learning from the training to be part of the participant\u2019s day. Small groups of people (20 or less) are recommended as the training is handson and everyone should be given a chance to share their experience. According to Meckman, \u201cWhen done correctly, this experiential training has mental, physical, and emotional components that are intertwined to create a balanced program. It is not a religious experience as the emphasis is on non-doctrine exercises.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \n\tCompanies are realizing that in order to continue the learning after a mindfulness training has occurred, they can offer \u201crecharge rooms\u201d within the organization or department. These rooms are designated for employees to take a few minutes of downtime to zone out, relax, stretch, nap, and practice meditating.<\/p>\n

    \n\tWHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM MINDFULNESS TRAINING?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n\tMindfulness training can benefit anyone in an organization\u2014from CEOs to entry-level employees. Ideally the organization as a whole should make mindfulness training a priority and part of the corporate culture. However, this training should never be mandatory as that can induce more stress rather than alleviate it and defeat the whole purpose entirely. Ideally, everyone in the organization should be encouraged to practice their skills during their workday. This can only happen when management is part of the training itself. Since anyone can benefit from mindfulness training, it is the perfect addition to any corporate wellness program. The goal is for the participants to continue their practice long after the training is done so the tools learned will be integrated into their interactions at work and into daily life.<\/p>\n

    \n\tWHAT COMPONENTS SHOULD BE IN A MINDFULNESS TRAINING PROGRAM?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n\tMindfulness training should include a wide variety of exercises as ways of paying attention to the present moment. Techniques such as meditation (seated, standing, walking), breath work, and gentle yoga movements will allow participants to become more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and body sensations. Mindfulness training aims to teach participants to live in the present moment and achieve a state of focused relaxation. Practicing mindfulness and meditating regularly is not just \u201cone more thing to do.\u201d Ironically, the only thing to \u201cdo\u201d in meditation is \u201cnothing.\u201d In today\u2019s demanding world, doing \u201cnothing\u201d is hard to do.<\/p>\n

    \n\tWHAT ARE THE ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A FACILITATOR?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n\tA mindfulness facilitator gives participants tools that facilitate learning and how to be present in this ever-changing world\u2014teaching the skills of paying attention to present moment experiences without judgment. Mindfulness trainers are not therapists, spiritual teachers, psychiatrists, or counselors (though they may have training in these areas). Their job is not to provide medical advice or administer psychotherapy. Teaching mindfulness is a highly specialized skill. Facilitators should have in-depth experience and training in learning about and practicing mindfulness and meditation. Ideally, they should have experience working in large organizational or corporate settings.<\/p>\n

    \n\tMeckman advises, \u201cAvoid finding someone set on one way of teaching mindfulness as there are countless ways to share this knowledge, and gifted facilitators will have many tools to offer.\u201d Additionally, \u201cit is imperative that mindfulness facilitators have a personal daily practice of their own, as both a professional and personal background in the field is key.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \n\tMORE THAN A PASSING FAD<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n\tOrganizations worldwide are looking for ways to improve their employees\u2019 engagement and performance at work. Approximately 25 percent of all major U.S. corporations have launched stress reduction programs that include mindfulness. These include companies as varied as Aetna, BASF, Genentech, Ford, P&G, Qualcomm, McKinsey, and the Chicago Bulls. Mindfulness training is more than a passing fad, it is a practice that has been around for thousands of years. It now is being recognized for its potential in business by improving decision-making, lowering turnover, increasing productivity, reducing stress, enhancing engagement and creativity, and resulting in a more empathetic and satisfied workforce.<\/p>\n

    \n\tIf you have any cases where you have implemented mindfulness training or have struggled with implementing mindfulness training, write to me at ngoodman@global-dynamics.com<\/a> for use in a future column.<\/p>\n

    \n\tNeal Goodman, Ph.D., is president of Global Dynamics, Inc., a training and development firm specializing in globalization, cultural intelligence, effective virtual workplaces, and diversity and inclusion. He can be reached at 305.682.7883 and at ngoodman@globaldynamics.com<\/a>. For more information, visit\u00a0http:\/\/www.global-dynamics.com.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    \n\tMindfulness training is being recognized for its potential in business by improving decision-making, lowering turnover, increasing productivity, reducing stress, enhancing engagement and creativity, and resulting in a more empathetic and satisfied workforce.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[28],"class_list":{"0":"post-11624","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-magazine","7":"tag-best-practices","8":"magazine_issues-may-2020"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Impact of Mindfulness Training on Organizations<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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