Brian Eagar | CEO | TowerStone | mail me |
The business-critical challenge of 75% of executives contemplating resignation highlights a harsh reality – mental health struggles are a significant concern for business founders, entrepreneurs and executives alike. So, what needs to change? The answer lies in mindfulness in the workplace – a proactive approach to nurturing resilience, focus and well-being in high-pressure environments.
A different view as a leader
As leaders, we often default to working late at night to ensure everything gets done. We focus on bottom-line results. We run from one meeting to another or even have two online meetings at the same time.
How can that be truly productive and efficient? The truth is, approaching things differently will lead to better financial results.
I believe that mindfulness in leadership enables you to be more courageous, intentional and present. It helps you be the best you can be, as you listen to understand what’s called for in each moment. This allows for improved relationships in the workplace. It leads to team members being in a switched-on state and more productive. The outcome is an improved bottom line.
Mindfulness in action
While mindfulness doesn’t happen overnight, the good news is that you get better with practice. Recognising that you need to do things differently is the first step. This may be due to your state of mental health, burnout, or how you show up at work (or at home).
Next is putting mindfulness into practice. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming or involve traditional meditation. It’s simply a moment of reflection to slow down. This needs to become a daily habit. It can be as simple as spending a moment reflecting on the day ahead as you put your feet down at the side of the bed. You could stop to take three breaths somewhere in your busy day. You can take a few seconds to recognise what you are grateful for.
To entrench mindfulness as a habit, make it part of your daily routine. You can work towards doing bigger things more often and for longer. Soon, you’ll feel calmer, have fewer outbursts, and be approached more readily by others. Outside of the workplace, mindfulness can help you in life in general.
Extend it beyond yourself
Creating a workplace where calmness and collaboration are the order of the day is critical. This requires ensuring that all team members buy into mindfulness. When they see how practicing mindfulness positively affects you as a leader, they’re more likely to embrace it.
Consider introducing employee wellness programmes. I’m not talking about providing a 15-minute massage once a year. Try putting programmes in place to proactively combat long hours, burnout and absenteeism. These issues exacerbate long hours and burnout.
Making on-site facilities available for “downtime” and stress relief can make a big difference in improving the workplace environment. It could start with something as simple as providing a peaceful garden for breaks or a library of resources for employees. You could build up to a gym area or a crèche for team members’ children.
A well-constructed Employee Value Proposition (EVP) is an excellent starting point for businesses, leaders, and boards. It’s a way to invest more in their greatest asset – their people. An EVP can include basics such as reward and recognition programmes, social responsibility initiatives, or time off. A robust EVP also considers career development, remuneration, benefits, work environment, and culture.
Prioritising mindfulness in the workplace is no longer a “nice to have”. It’s something that all leaders should practise and cascade to others.
