If used correctly and consistently in theory and in practice, mindfulness training can alleviate stress on the job and empower a company's employees with the right tools they need to succeed better at tackling responsibilities and communicating effectively with their leaders or colleagues.
In addition, developing mental clarity or regaining a new perspective enables employees to demonstrate more empathy and be their best selves. And, that's what's best for the company overall.
Below, 12 Forbes Human Resources Council members explain how modeling mindfulness behavior patterns in the workplace is helping their employees (and the company) win.
Forbes Human Resources Council members share their insight.
Photos courtesy of individual members.1. It Increases Employee Engagement
We guided 850 managers through a one-on-one program called the mindful manager. We gathered each morning for 10 minutes. Managers got a chance to decompress and model mindful behavior. We saw engagement go way up. Sentiment analysis supported the success of this simple shift. - James Kinney, Media Monks
2. It Decreases Employee Burnout
The challenge of staying present is a constant journey, but it’s one of the biggest keys to success and happiness. Mindfulness is an incredible tool for burnout prevention, helping us regain perspective amidst the busy world of deadlines, difficult workplace conversations and more. If we don't implement ways to help employees be their best selves, how can we expect them to do their best work? - Natalie Rast, Stensul
3. It Stimulates Self-Reflection
Mindfulness is about training self-awareness and awareness in general, which improves the trust in one’s self as well as in others. This ultimately creates a sense of psychological safety—one of the most important ingredients for successful teamwork, creativity and innovative performance and power. - Anne Iversen, TimeXtender
4. It Reminds People To Stay In The Moment
Mindfulness is one of the most effective ways to counteract the symptoms of workplace stress. Building a strong relationship with yourself that helps you be more self-aware is the goal. Here is a quick way to get started: Stop doing the activity and bring yourself into the present moment. Observe your breath as an anchor. Return thoughts to your breath when you become distracted. Be in the moment and breath. - Brandy Marshall, Franklin Pierce School District
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5. It Empowers Better Team Communication
One of the areas we noticed mindfulness training helped was in emails. If there was a disagreeable factor, individuals would defensively respond in their immediate emotional state rather than allowing time for consideration. Things like "walking medication" resulted in expressions of objection that considered the receiver and focused on the actual merits of the issue. - Tiersa Smith-Hall, The Hartling Group
6. It Helps People Think More Clearly
Mindfulness training teaches employees to calm their minds and become more self-aware in the moment. This naturally helps reduce stress levels and leads to engaged workers with higher performance levels because they can focus on the tasks at hand with a clear mind. When level-headed people interact to solve problems, it encourages innovation and creativity that boosts morale and performance. - Niki Jorgensen, Insperity
7. It Offers A Different Perspective
Growth mindset allows teams to be mentally fit with the ability to rethink and learn from a new way of thinking. Refreshing knowledge and perspectives gives teams a sense of purpose and vitality. Mindfulness training creates a culture where teams are encouraged and inspired to stretch, grow, learn and develop. Not only will leaning into mindfulness create new habits and different perspectives, it will also enable shifts in higher performance levels. - Britton Bloch, Navy Federal
8. It Creates A Happier Workplace
Now more than ever, mindfulness is an essential skill today and a complete must-have for effective leaders. Mindfulness training or simply reinforcing and rewarding mindful habits creates a happier workplace. Happy workers are more productive. It's really that simple. - Bryan Passman, Hunter + Esquire
9. It Alleviates Team Conflict
Having mindful training techniques allows employees to decrease stress and stay focused on their tasks, alleviating team conflict. Over time, this should create a more flexible and comfortable work environment, resulting in higher performance and boosted morale. - Kelsey Schnittgen, Mission Critical Solutions
10. It Builds Employee Retention
Employee engagement improves dramatically after working through workshops such as digital wellbeing training. This is a program that teams can offer to maintain a stronger employee retention. After this training, employees have the tools to set boundaries for themselves, which is a common issue. This is a way to prevent burnout while improving morale. - Leigh Yanocha, Knopman Marks Financial Training
11. It Helps Individuals Stay Focused
Mindfulness helps individuals focus, drown out the noise and determine what truly matters. This includes what needs to get done versus what isn't really needed, which matters warrant stress versus which ones don't and the like. It provides clarity for the pathway of productivity. - Megan Leasher, Talent Plus
12. It Fosters Health And Wellness
Throughout the pandemic, mindfulness training has helped employees better manage workplace stress. Those who have trouble managing stress may find it has negatively affected their mental health over the past two years. Therefore, by focusing on mental health awareness and providing employee counseling as part of mindfulness training, we are able to help them with stress management. - John Feldmann, Insperity
