The Impact of Mindfulness on Business Employees

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2.3 Mindfulness in workplace

Many business managers have knowledge of the benefits of the practice of mindfulness both in their personal and professional lives. Mindfulness has a crucial potential role to play in developing clarity through attentiveness and in improving the power of concentration. For instance, Hughes Aircraft and Deutsche Bank have introduced meditation classes for their employees (Dhiman, 2009). Mindfulness improves managers’ observations and reduces depression, which can help them enhance clarity and creative thinking, increase energy and sense of well-being, and stimulate emotional intelligence for working (Dhiman, 2009). As Janice, a director of corporate leadership education, has noted that as leaders practicing mindfulness may strengthen the ability to listen deeply and learn to respond rather than react (Vogus & Sutcliffe, 2012).

Much of leaders’ works consist of unknown environments and understanding customers; mindfulness plays a crucial role in both of these situations. Mindfulness might build self-confidence in leaders and help managers to be more reality and clearly in facing difficulties; for example, Michael Carroll, a Buddhist-trained HR executive with many years of experience in meditation, indicated that mindfulness could be a unique leadership tool for gaining clarity, reducing stress, and enhancing professional performance. (Dhiman ,2009) Furthermore, meditation results in greater creativity, receptivity, and clarity for oneself and others; it is able to improve an employee’s work performance and beneficial in terms of business management development.

In addition, mindfulness helps managers experience a better organizational performance. With the development of global economic, increasing numbers of CEOs and their managers face challenge that require them to use their capabilities to resolving different kinds of problems. A numbers of business leaders find that mindfulness practice helps them to be focused and to be less reactive (Vogus&Sutcliffe,2012). According to the Society for Organization Learning (SoL), be useful for organizations (Vogus&Sutcliffe, 2012). Higher levels of organizational mindfulness in business administrators improve strategic management; and increase affective and normative organizational commitment.

2.4 Methods of practicing mindfulness

The practice of mindfulness has rapidly spread around the world, mindfulness as a mental exercise that can be helpful for busy business people; several ways of practicing mindfulness are proposed to business people. Informal mindfulness and formal mindfulness are the two ways of practicing mindfulness (Khisty, 2010). Informal mindfulness practice means to be truly present in the moment; and it involves mindfully carrying out various everyday activities, such as walking, eating and standing (Dhiman,2009). On the other hand, formal meditative practice includes three exercise. First of all is the body scan which is a moment of attention through the body feet up to the head; and sitting meditation which means directing attention to the sensation of breathing while sitting; the last exercise of formal practice is mindful movement, it shows that to keep one’s focus on the present moment over an extended period of time. (Dhiman, 2009)

In order to be successful in workplace, a number of ways for practicing mindfulness are proposed for business leaders; for instance, at lunch time try to change the environment instead of staying at workplace; use the break to really relax rather than having coffee, cigarette, and reading (Dhiman, 2009). Also, choosing topics that are not related work to discuss with partners instead of staying at work for a long time. Moreover, Vipassana meditation, which is a meditation technique of self-transformation through self-observation helps release stress and calm mood, is another method for managers practice. It focuses on the deep connection between mind and body, which can be experienced directly. (Maques, Dhiman, & king, 2009) Nevertheless, most practitioners choose to concentrate on the breath which is a easily method for people in workplace. Use the everyday easily practice in lives could help leaders experience a greater emotion in the workplace.

Practical mindfulness and enhanced mental control can significantly help business workers and leaders have better abilities on different workplace. Living in today’s world is complex and stressful for almost everybody; it provides an opportunity for people to engage in new methods to understand and manage ourselves. One method is the practice of mindfulness, both formal and informal; paying attention to the present moment is the main point of mindfulness (Khisty,2010). Millions of people who practice meditation are able to see the world more clearly instead of being lost in their mind.

3.1 Methodology

An interview survey is the main methodology during research.

3.2 Survey: Why do business employees attend mindfulness training?

The purpose of this survey is to determine why business employees attend mindfulness training.

1. Gender (Please circle one) M F

2. What is your occupation?

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3. How do you feel about mindfulness training? (Please circle)

A. I enjoy attending the mindfulness training.

B. I will attend, but it doesn’t really matter.

C. Mindfulness training is boring.

4. How often do you attend mindfulness training? (Please circle)

A. Everyday.

B. Three times weekly.

C. Less than once a month.

5. Do you think mindfulness training is address a really need in your life?

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