A Mindful Workplace

The number of yoga practitioners in the US has increased by 80% since 2012, according to a study conducted by the Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance in 2016. Wisdom 2.0 hosts summits that bring together business leaders, politicians, celebrities and advocates for social change by “creating gatherings for those passionate about living with greater mindfulness, meaning, and wisdom in our modern age.” It seems that American society is embracing the concept of mindfulness. How are we embracing it in the workplace, if at all?

Often times in our workplaces we are trying to do more with less, faster and more profitably than we did before. It’s no wonder that we are challenged with staying focused on the present moment with deadlines and quarterly sales goals looming over us. How can we remain mindful in a high-pressure environment, and what does mindfulness look like in the workplace?

Allow me to paint two scenarios around a team meeting.

In scenario A, the person who called the meeting rushes into the meeting room 5 minutes late, does not address the team, and drops their belongings on the table while sitting down and sighing loudly. During the meeting, he consistently checks his smartphone as his teammates are talking.

In Scenario B, the person who called the meeting arrives on time, is calm and collected, and greets his teammates with a smile as they come into the room. The smartphone is nowhere in sight during the meeting, and each person in the meeting has his full attention when they have the floor.

Which meeting would you choose to attend? And which type of meeting leader would you prefer to be?

Of course, I am intentionally painting over-the-top scenarios to prove my point, however I’m willing to bet that we’ve all been in meetings that look something like scenario A. While there are many factors that could play into why these two scenarios look so different from one another, I am going to present it through the lens of choice. The person in scenario B chose to prioritize the meeting in his day. He made a point to take a few minutes before the meeting to collect himself, perhaps taking a few deep breaths to regulate his emotions after a difficult conversation that ended just before the meeting started. He chose to leave his phone in his backpack, on silent mode so that he was not distracted by others outside of the room. In doing this, he was telling his teammates that he values their time and is choosing to give them his undivided attention by staying present in the moment.

Here are some small adjustments that you can make to create a workplace conducive to mindfulness:

  • Be aware of your body language and your energy as you enter the room. Are you projecting calm confidence or frazzled chaos?
  • Don’t check your phone during meetings, unless you are expecting an important call or message. If so, let the team know at the beginning of the meeting, so they understand why you appear distracted by your device. Even having your phone out on the table gives a visual cue that you are not fully present.
  • Instead of 60-minute meetings, schedule 50-minute meetings. This will give you time to close out your current meeting, get to your next one, and have a few moments to spare to make the mental shift from one to the other.

How do you exercise mindfulness in your workplace? We’d love to hear your ideas and comments.

-Amy Hill, Teams InBalance Director & Facilitator

Share your comments