The 5 benefits of Mindfulness in the operation of companies

Mindfulness is one of the therapeutic tools with the most potential, and that is why in recent years more and more psychology professionals have incorporated it into their work.

However, one of the characteristics of this form of intervention is that the areas in which it can be applied are not restricted to therapy sessions with people with emotional disturbances or disorders psychological. For example, its positive effects are also being felt in the business world.

In this article we will see a summary of the main benefits of Mindfulness in the context of companies and organizations in general.

• Related article: "The 4 types of Mindfulness and their characteristics"

The advantages of Mindfulness in the business world

What we know today as Mindfulness, also sometimes called Mindfulness in its translation into Spanish, is a set of practices characterized by inducing a state of consciousness that has therapeutic effects, although not only in people with psychological problems diagnosable.

These practices are inspired by certain variants of traditional meditation from the Indian subcontinent and surroundings, and which have more than a thousand years of history; However, Mindfulness is not linked to religion, but has been developed scientifically and secularly to provide objective solutions to specific problems.

Many of these problems and needs are of great relevance in the context of companies and organizations in general, as we will see.

So that... What are the most important benefits that Mindfulness brings to companies and to the management and coordination processes that take place in them? Let's see it next.

1. Helps manage stress

This is one of the main purposes that Mindfulness was designed for in the first place. Mindfulness practices help to keep excess stress at bay, among other things by helping us to get rid of intrusive and recurring thoughts that come into our consciousness time after time and that bring stress or anxiety with them. It has the effect of a kind of mental "reset", at least when it comes to negative emotions.

• You may be interested in: "Psychology of work and organizations: a profession with a future"

2. It makes us more likely to work in a structured way

Mindfulness leads people to regain their decision power about what to focus on. This leads to a more sensible and rational vision of what the priorities should be at all times., instead of giving in to the desire to postpone indefinitely the tasks that become heavier, for example.

3. It favors the reduction of conflict

There are conflicts that are totally avoidable and are produced mainly by the existence of a bad work environment or by the tension accumulated throughout the working day. Mindfulness makes us less likely to get involved in ego struggles or to suffer outbursts of anger, and it encourages us to think about the medium and long-term consequences of our actions.

4. It is a healthy way to relieve tension

Many bad habits are actually an alibi to "cover" negative feelings through actions that give us an immediate but fleeting pleasure: go out to the terrace to smoke, go to the soda and food machine etc. Mindfulness practices are good substitutes for these actions, and have no harmful side effects.

5. It gives the opportunity to unite teams

Training work teams in the use of simple Mindfulness practices is relatively easy. These acts help maintain group cohesion through collective activities linked to positive feelings and calm.

Mindfulness learning for entrepreneurs and managers

From the team at the psychological assistance center Psychologists Majadahonda We offer Mindfulness training courses specially designed for professionals in charge of teams: managers, department heads, HR technicians, and similar profiles.

Throughout these courses it is possible to learn the theoretical and practical foundations of Mindfulness, focusing on its implications in the world of organizations and work, and the way in which their potential can be used in dynamics of creating a good work environment, stress management, etc.

This initiative is part of the Mindfulness training programs that we carry out in parallel to psychotherapy services, through group sessions with small groups. You can see more information about our center and about the courses we take by accessing this page.

Bibliographic references:

• Carroll, M. (2007). The Mindful Leader: Ten Principles for Bringing Out the Best in Ourselves and Others. Boulder: Shambhala Publications.
• Hassed, C.. & Chambers, R. (2014). Mindful learning: reduce stress and improve brain performance for effective learning. Gosford: Exisle Publishing.
• Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013). Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness. New York: Bantam Dell.
• Meditation classes raise attorneys mindfulness (2009). New Orleans CityBusiness.
• Sharma, M.; Rush, S.E. (2014). Mindfulness-based stress reduction as a stress management intervention for healthy individuals: a systematic review. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 19 (4): pp. 271 - 286.
• Vonderlin, R.; Biermann, M.; Bohus, M.; Lyssenko, L. (2020). "Mindfulness-Based Programs in the Workplace: a Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials". Mindfulness. 11 (7): pp. 1579 - 1598.