Mindfulness at work
Mindfulness is defined as paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgementally. Mindfulness if used and strengthened can lead to attentional calmness and clarity that forms the basis of emotional intelligence. To be successful in the workplace, a right dose of managing our emotions by regulating our attention is very important. When you detect any conflict situations such as to have a difficult conversation with your boss, your mind gets into a fight-flight-freeze mode which impairs rational thinking.Just with regular attention training, this part of the mind can be controlled to maintain calm and to get over any such situations.
Mindfulness entails that you are always living in the present. Being aware of your surroundings will make you more resilient against stress and will help in being more productive. What's more, being mindful will also guide your interactions with your colleagues and will help you understand other people. Being aware of their emotions can change how you react to a particular situation and any unpleasant situations can be avoided.
Mindfulness can also be used to find the real 'purpose' at work. There are three types of happiness that an employee feels at work as described by Tony Hsieh in his book 'Delivering Happiness'.
- Pleasure: This type of happiness is always about chasing the next high and is temporary in nature and non-sustainable.
- Flow or Passion: This is felt when peak performance meets peak engagement and time just flies by.
- Higher Purpose: This is about being part of something that is bigger than yourself and has a meaning to you.
The happiness arising from Flow or Higher Purpose is totally sustainable as it gives larger meaning to life or work. Interestingly we instinctively chase after pleasure believing it to be source of sustainable happiness. Tony's insights suggest on doing just the opposite and we should be spending our time and energy working on the higher purpose, sometimes enjoying the flow and every now and then savouring rock-star pleasure. If we know what we value most and what is meaningful to us, then we know what we can work that serves our higher purpose. In such a situation we will be happy doing our jobs and will be good at what we are doing, for which we are also getting paid! Finally, when we become very good at our work, we may gain recognition. In ADDA we have always stressed on the importance of considering your work as Life's Work which beautifully aligns with the 'Higher Purpose'.