Practicing Mindfulness in the Age of Complexity

From Silicon Valley technology companies to New York-based investment firms, terms such as mindfulness, conscious decision-making, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness are making their way into the daily jargon of employees, CEOs, and entrepreneurs. It is a new trend that pushes us out of the old notions of pure productivity (to work fast and think fast), towards the knowledge-based economy of self-transformation and disciplined passions. Whether it is a meditation session or the examination of our underlying assumptions, there is a new wave of minding your business and it involves your consciousness.

TEXT PRISCILLA LOTMAN

“The way that we speak about mindfulness in the present day has become something its originators might not recognize,” said Tomas Chamorro- Premuzic, psychologist at the University College, London. Google “mindful business” and you will be directed to websites on meditation, how to do yoga at the office, and the book Mindful Leadership: The 9 Ways to Self-Awareness, Transforming Yourself, and Inspiring Others. These things are all important; however, the overall consensus amongst writers, researchers, leaders, entrepreneurs, and practitioners is that it is much more than a one week retreat or a single meditation session. Mindfulness, especially in your business, is about an approach and a lifestyle. “Becoming more mindful takes hard work and discipline, and these things are not really valued by our fast-paced culture that favors instant gratification,” wrote Alice G. Walton in her article on the subject for Forbes magazine.

Technology and Focus
The most onerous challenge any entrepreneur faces is to stay focused. In today’s technology- oriented world where persuasive images, countless e-mails, blinking advertisements, and tweets and bleeps battle for your attention, it is imperative that you find your personal path to staying focused. “It is the main challenge people face today,” said Toine Knipping, founder and CEO of Amicorp, and writer of the book Mind Your Business: Thoughts for Entrepreneurs. “Without discipline, people start compromising and that is probably the worst thing you can do, simply because compromise deludes quality and it deludes your ideas. Don’t compromise, not in business and not in your hobbies,” stated Knipping.

“In a logical world,
technology would make
us work less not more,
because technology
helps us identify and
solve problems quicker,
and it gives us more
freedom and flexibility.”

We’re all stuck to technology, and wanting to take a step back for a bit of peace and quiet is understandable. According to Chamorro- Premuzic, “In a logical world, technology would make us work less not more, because technology helps us identify and solve problems quicker, and it gives us more freedom and flexibility.” This means that is it also more difficult to switch technology off and to be mindful when you need some quiet time to make conscious decisions. You are mindful when you become aware of yourself and your surroundings, when you do not react on autopilot and by not labeling or judging. Mindfulness enhances emotional intelligence, notably self-awareness and the capacity to manage distressing emotions.

Applying this to your company can lead to significant psychological and physiological benefits. “Ultimately you should be aiming for a holistic way of running your business – creating win-win situations, ensuring that all the stakeholders benefit from your business, and focusing on both the material and the immaterial sides of running a company,” said Knipping. Entrepreneurs are naturally preoccupied, thinking about their company and planning ahead, and it is within this space that they need to take a break and consider the path they are taking for their company.

The Vision
The success of mindfulness might mean different things to different people. However, there are claims that it promotes psychological flexibility, awareness, resilience, better decision-making, improved job performance, reduced absence rates, and the ability to learn new tasks. No wonder businesses are interested. This is not “new age psychobabble” or a cure for some type of disorder. It is a process to improve your life and your company environment – and it is hard work. “You need to be mindful of [your vision] and not be distracted by business plans, forms, procedures and the like, and you need to work hard at it. You need to be fully present with your business and you need to be completely intentional about what you do. You also need to be generous, everything you give away you receive again in threefold. Many people do not believe this,

“The success of
mindfulness might
mean different things
to different people.”

but it is definitely true,” concludes Knipping. Any intervention that could help with the daily stresses of running or managing a business would be impressive. Incorporating the principles of this new way of running a business comes natural to some, especially the younger generation, although for others there is a learning curve. Yet, countless companies have proven that self-awareness and mindfulness are good for business and that it contributes to the overall performance of the company. Thus, whether you introduce daily, ten-minute meditation sessions at the office, speak openly about conscious decision making with your colleagues or employees, and/or turn off all that technology for a moment of focus every day, you are well on your way to becoming more mindful in your daily operations.