By being mindful we become less caught up in worrying and ruminating, more aware of what is really happening, better able to manage our thoughts and better able to respond to the situation we are dealing with.
Spiritual Roots, Scientific Evidence
Mindfulness has been investigated at length by many scientific studies, which have demonstrated that practicing mindfulness leads to changes in the structure of our brains. These changes are visible after only a few weeks of mindfulness meditation.
These changes benefit us in a number of areas.
- Reductions in levels of stress, worry and emotional outbursts
- Improvements to emotional intelligence, empathy, communication skill, conflict management, gaining perspective, decision-making, creativity, problem solving, ability to 'switch off' after work and happiness
Although it draws on Eastern spiritual and religious practices, modern workplace mindfulness is a secular activity.
In order to enjoy the benefits of mindful practices we do not need to undertake many of the associated 'spiritual' elements. This is particularly relevant when we consider mindfulness as a developmental approach applied within the workplace.
Mindfulness in the Workplace
There are many hundreds of studies into the impact of mindfulness within organisations. It has been demonstrated to deliver a wide range of benefits across areas including:
- Developing Leadership
- Organisational Change
- Employee Engagement
- Employee Performance
- Staff Wellbeing
Government Study of Mindfulness in the Workplace
Starting in 2014 the UK government conducted a twelve month inquiry into mindfulness which resulted in the publication of a report ‘Mindful Nation UK’. Written by the Mindfulness All-Party Parliamentary Group (MAPPG), and published in October 2015 it supports the implementation of mindful initiatives in business and the public sector and provides a number of recommendations relating to implementing mindfulness within the UK.
The past few years have seen a steady increase in the number of companies applying mindful practices to their workplaces, benefitting both the organisations and the people working within them.
Online Mindfulness Training
Take a look at our online mindfulness training for organisations and individuals