Meditation for Business
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When you think of meditation, you’re more likely to envision a yogi in lotus position than a C suite executive in a board room.
However, thanks to its widely researched benefits for reducing stress and increasing focus and productivity, meditation has become increasingly popular amongst business leaders and professionals.
Regardless of what style of meditation you practise, the technique is – at its core – simply a form of mindfulness, which involves focusing on the present moment and becoming more aware of your thoughts and feelings. Perhaps most important to remember is the fact that it’s not about clearing your mind of thoughts, but rather about allowing them to come and go, without becoming carried away with them.
Some widely practised forms of meditation include:
- Mindfulness meditation
- Zen meditation
- Focused awareness meditation
- Movement meditation
- Mantra meditation
- Transcendental meditation
- Loving kindness meditation
- Progressive relaxation
- Visualisation
Regardless of which you choose, the benefits are the same…
- Stress management
- Greater emotional equilibrium
- Bigger picture thinking
- Enhanced self-awareness
- Improved focus and concentration
- Improved problem-solving
- Enhanced creativity
- Decreased anxiety
- Improved sleep
- Enhanced productivity
- Improved memory
- Improved interpersonal relationships
- …and much more
All these benefits can, of course, be applied directly to greater satisfaction and success in the workplace.
Meditation can help you stay focused, increase creativity, and make better decisions at work. One study even found that people who meditate regularly have increased gray matter in the prefrontal cortex, which is associated with decision-making, attention, and self-control. Another found that meditation can improve cognitive flexibility, which is the ability to switch between tasks and think creatively.
Stress is of course an ever-present problem in the business world, and can lead to burnout, decreased productivity, and a host of other health problems. Meditation has been shown to reduce levels of cortisol - the hormone that is released in response to stress – as well as to help develop resilience in the face of multiple stressors and setbacks.
When you meditate, you become more aware of your thoughts and emotions, which can help you communicate more effectively with colleagues and clients. You may also become more empathetic, which can help you understand the perspectives of others and build stronger relationships.
The Proof is in the Pudding
- Google’s ‘Search Inside Yourself’ meditation programme aims to help employees build their emotional intelligence.
- The meditation rooms at Apple aim to encourage greater insight through the stilling of the mind.
- Nike’s dedicated meditation spaces aim to offer employees opportunities to relax and regroup.
- Facebook’s weekly in-house meditations are offered to help boost productivity and morale.
- Amazon’s ‘ZenBooths’ aim to create a space where team members can focus on their mental and emotional wellbeing during the work day.
- LinkedIn Executive Chairman Jeff Weiner uses the HeadSpace meditation app daily.
- Huffington Post Founder Arianna Huffington cites 20 – 30 minutes of meditation as a non-negotiable part of her morning routine.
- Microsoft Founder Bill Gates has shared that 10 minutes of meditation a day helps him to calm his emotions and thoughts.
Ready to reap the benefits in your own workplace? Here are a few easy ways to start:
- Create a meditation space: Designate a quiet area in your workplace where you or your team can retreat to meditate. This could be a small room or a corner of a larger room. Consider including cushions or chairs to sit on, as well as any props like yoga mats or blankets that might make the space more comfortable.
- Offer guided meditation sessions: Bring in a meditation instructor or use guided meditation apps to lead group meditation sessions during lunch breaks or before or after work. This can help employees to feel more comfortable with the practice and provide a sense of community around meditation.
- Encourage mindful breaks: Remember to take (and encourage) mindful breaks throughout the day. This could involve taking a few deep breaths or focusing on a calming image or phrase for a few minutes…this can improve productivity and focus in the long run.
- Provide resources: Offer resources like books, apps, or guided meditations for team members to use at their desks or at home. This can help employees to integrate meditation into their daily routine and continue to practise outside of the workplace.
- Integrate meditation into meetings: Start meetings with a short meditation or breathing exercise to help yourself and your team to focus and clear your minds before diving into work-related discussions. This can help to reduce stress and increase productivity during meetings.
- Offer a mindfulness programme: Consider offering a structured mindfulness programme that includes meditation sessions, mindfulness training, and resources for employees to take home.
- Lead by example: Incorporate meditation into your own workday routine, and encourage your colleagues to do the same. This can help to create a culture of mindfulness and well-being in the workplace.
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