Partner Article

Take a moment for mindfulness in the workplace

Not everyone is au fait with the concept of ‘mindfulness’, and some may even see it as too “alternative” for the workplace - but now is the time for businesses to familiarise themselves with it and give it some thought. It’s becoming an increasingly important and popular aspect of management training strategies to help employees deal with the relentless fast pace and pressures so common in the workplace.

By definition, mindfulness meditation is a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings and thoughts. The technique draws on breathing exercises commonly used in yoga and meditation, but more focussed on how we manage our behaviour in the workplace.

It’s not about ‘zoning out’ as some may think, it’s about ‘zoning in’; paying attention to the present and de-cluttering the brain to make more room for creativity and positivity – and that is why it’s being embraced in businesses across the UK. It is the perfect antidote to the common information overload that occurs in various businesses nowadays. Constantly improving technology means people are so easily contactable and are therefore on alert twenty-four seven, often inundated with emails and calls. Various social media platforms also add to the interruptions to the working day.

By encouraging mindfulness at work, it will teach employees to be in the present moment instead of being distracted by the past or worried about the future, and they will be able to focus on the task at hand without worrying about a meeting next week or a conference call tomorrow. As a result, it will not only improve the emotional state of employees, but should improve productivity in working hours. Stress levels will be lower, clashing personalities or office politics will be reduced – people will be calmer and disputes are less likely to flare up.

Weightmans began its journey with a limited number of pilots. Such was the success of these that Mindfulness training is now offered to all staff in its 9 offices in England and Scotland and the take up has been really positive. Many staff have since chosen to sign up for advanced courses.

I am really pleased with the uptake and positive impact mindfulness training has had on our business. A staggering 98% of attendees said that they had been able to apply what they had learned to their work and personal life. It was a brave step when our HR team suggested the programme. Lawyers have years of training to be challenging and inquisitive and the way even our toughest litigation lawyers have taken to the concept has been nothing short of brilliant.

By Dan Cutts, Weightmans Senior Partner.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Weightmans LLP .