Mindfulness in Workplace Specialised Training

MindWork Specialised Training Modules

In addition to our Mindfulness Training packages, any of the following 6 areas can be incorporated to a greater depth into the programme:

1. Mindful Communication and Teamwork
Psychological stress arises from the interaction between us and the world so we ourselves play a part in the relationships and situations that cause us stress. When we are totally absorbed in our own feelings, view and agenda, it is virtually impossible to have a genuine communication. When we fail to hold sufficient self- awareness we are even more likely to fail in our awareness of others leading to miscommunication and the frustration and wasted time that it entails. Training to increase self-awareness and developing the practices of mindful listening and mindful talking can bring us the ability to have empathic, creative communication and harmonious, productive resonant teams.

2. Mindfulness and Creativity
The flow of creativity is “a state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience is so enjoyable that people will continue to do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it.” (Cskikszentmihalyi, 1990, p.4)

One key aspect of flow is that, while in flow, nearly all of the brain’s available inputs are devoted to one activity. This is why the perception of time changes, discomfort goes unnoticed, and stray negative thoughts don’t enter the mind. The brain is too busy focusing on one thing to keep track of all those other things. This ability to focus fully on what we are doing, one thing at a time, can be trained through engaging in mindfulness practice.

3. Mindful Leadership
Research shows that mindfulness leads to significant changes in the brain: more cognitive flexibility, creativity and innovativeness, higher levels of wellbeing, better emotional regulation, and more empathy due to increased levels of alpha and theta wave activity.

Mindful Leadership training offers an intensive mental discipline training of mindfulness meditation that teaches leaders to cultivate and strengthen the mind’s capacity to be fully present. In doing so, leaders begin to see and hear and think with greater clarity, and are able to expand the repertoire of possibilities and responses both at work and in their lives.

4. Mindful Computing
‘In our current relationship with technology, we bring our bodies, but our minds rule. “Don’t stop now, you’re on a roll. Yes, pick up that phone call, you can still answer these six emails. Follow Twitter while working on PowerPoint, why not?” Our minds push, demand, coax, and cajole. “No break yet, we’re not done. No dinner until this draft is done.” Our tyrannical minds conspire with enabling technologies and our bodies do their best to hang on for the wild ride.’ (Linda Stone, 2010)

How can we stay focused and present while using technology? Mindfulness and awareness allow us to stay in touch with the present moment, with our body and with the sense perceptions, so that we can use technology to our advantage rather than being used by it.

5. Mindfulness and Enjoyment
For many of us life has become a ‘treadmill’ of work, chores and stress with moments of pleasure, enjoyment and creativity squashed into corners when our diary allows. However, we have pleasure available to us through our senses at all times, but we need to develop the skills of ‘coming to our senses’ in order to access that pleasure. Mindful enjoyment looks at the methods and practices for bringing greater enjoyment into the workplace and also improving our relationship to pleasure outside of work through looking at the mechanics of developing a healthier and more cheerful life-work balance.

6. Mindful Movement
It is now accepted that a healthy body encourages a ‘healthy’ mind – that is a mind capable of clear and creative thought. Bringing mindfulness to the body can help you learn what your body does and doesn’t need in order to thrive. It can also reveal a great deal about your world and your life. Through mindfulness of the body, and practices of mindful movement, you can begin to understand how stress and anxiety affect you, and how to reduce their presence in your life.