The Mindful Business

I was standing in the checkout line at my local grocery store when a magazine entitled “Mindfulness” caught my eye. It seems that our culture is becoming, well, more mindful of mindfulness, and the term is becoming a buzzword in our social lexicon. As our world becomes more complex and “mindless,” more people are seeking simplicity and substance as a break from the busyness of their lives.

Mindfulness means paying attention to the moment, being fully aware, while calmly and objectively evaluating the circumstances and one’s reaction to them; examining one’s internal and external environment. Mindfulness practices are varied but include such things as Yoga and meditation, the latter being that with which most people are aware. However, walking and jogging can also be mindful activities.

While some people may equate meditation with “spacing out” and being preoccupied with one’s internal mind, mindfulness meditation is about being fully present and watchful. The beauty of mindfulness is that nearly anything can become a practice of awareness, even washing the dishes or doing the laundry.

Too often, our circumstances are accompanied by judgments about them, which in turn leads to anxiety and stress, as we compare what we see with what we imagine and what we desire. When we objectively observe what is, we come to appreciate that our responses are sometimes exaggerated, biased, and unproductive.

Studies have shown that mindfulness practices have many positive benefits, including reductions in stress, anxiety, and depression. While it may seem counterintuitive, mindfulness can also improve one’s productivity by helping to increase concentration and focus.

Given the growing public cognizance of mindfulness and its benefits, it's no wonder that mindful practices are being embraced by the business community. Apple, Google, and Aetna are among those who have adopted these techniques to improve their bottom line. Moreover, forward-thinking organizations are making mindfulness part of their business strategy to help their members be more aware of their rapidly changing environment. Some have gone so far as to begin strategic planning sessions with “a mindfulness meeting”, thinking that this will lead to better problem solving and greater levels of creativity.

While it might be easy to dismiss mindfulness as yet another fad, these techniques have been practiced in the East for thousands of years and may well be one of the reasons that Japanese and Korean firms have been so successful. How can being more aware of what's going on around you, in a clear and objective manner, ever be a bad thing? The quieter we are, the more we can hear.

As a long-term mindfulness practitioner and business efficiency consultant, I am uniquely qualified to bring mindfulness programs to your business or organization and, thereby, help you to achieve your goals. Please feel free to contact me to learn more.