The practice of mindfulness is the latest buzzword amongst leaders at the moment, but what is it, and can it really help leaders to switch off?
Can it really help leaders to switch off?
What is mindfulness?
Exposure to seemingly-endless amounts of information without taking time out, can lead to being ‘lost in thought, thinking without knowing you’re thinking’, a state that is sure to bring about more confusion.
Mindfulness is a process which allows us to perform a basic form of meditation, to help us focus. The concept behind mindfulness is to be compassionate with yourself; simply to observe your own thoughts, rather than acting on them. It allows for a degree of control over our thoughts and feelings that may not have been present previously.
This type of thinking is not stressful or exhausting. It is instead a process of being ‘in the moment’, which can help prevent negative emotions from spiraling out of control. The practice of mindfulness was brought to Western culture by Jon Kabat-Zinn, and is rapidly becoming popular as a way of attempting to cope with the challenges and pressures which are placed upon us, as part of our daily lives. This is especially true if you’re in a demanding position that carries over into your home life.
So how can mindfulness make you a better leader?
Mindfulness can help with leadership in many ways. As a leader of a team, you’re constantly bombarded with information, both inside the office, and out. When this happens, it is easy to get lost in your thoughts, trying to process the information you’ve just been given and to make sense of it all. This often causes confusion, stress and sub-optimal decision making, as our thought processes are unable to cope with the information overload.
Mindfulness increases your self-awareness, enabling you to remain calm and focused on the tasks at hand. Mastering the art of ‘switching off’, can relieve the stress and anxiety of the day’s events, and enable you to come into work feeling refreshed, ready to perform to the best of your ability.
Other benefits that we can gain from Mindfulness are**:
- Improves our ability to regulate negative emotions (have you ever ‘flown off the handle’ or not been about to quieten your mind?)
- Encourages positive emotions and self-control
- Improves our ability to be creative and think creatively
- Can relieve or eliminate depression and anxiety
**Source of Mindfulness Benefits –https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/feeling-it/201309/20-scientific-reasons-start-meditating-today