Mindful Leaders create stronger organisations
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) includes Mindful Leadership in their definition of “High Reliability Organisations’.
These organisations adhere to the following practices:
- Bottom-up communication of bad news
- Proactive audits
- Open communication
- Encouragement to report without fear or blame
- Engagement with front-line staff
- Investment of resources.
All of these practices lead to a more engaged, positive and resilient workforce, able to deal with the stresses and challenges of work.
Mindfulness is now proven to improve resilience
The University of Oxford published some exciting research in November 2013. It provided evidence of the effectiveness of a Mindfulness course run at the University. The study examined the effects of the course for 273 people. It showed that, on average, after one month, they enjoyed:
- A 58% reduction in anxiety levels
- A 57% reduction in depression
- A 40% reduction in stress
Further proof from an RCT from the University of Surrey (published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology) showed significant average reductions in work-related rumination, chronic fatigue and improvements in sleep quality. Completers of the Be Mindful online course indicated:
- A 25% decrease in worrying and stressful thoughts
- A 26% reduction in fatigue
- A 33% improvement in sleep quality.
Conclusion
Mindfulness, practised regularly, can help build your resilience. So, make yourself a promise to practice one minute a day beginning with three deep breaths, feeling your feet on the ground, and being physically present.
In my next blog I’m going to focus on the common problems that arise when we start practising mindfulness….like “I cant stop my thoughts! How can I stop my thoughts?!”
Join us on our next one day course on Mindfulness on October 29th 2018
Emma Falkner is a Leadership Consultant who works with individuals and organisations to build resilience for a happier, healthier people and workplaces. Contact her to find out more.