Summary
Purpose:
To date there has been little room for an open forum for discussions
on the effects of mindfulness on organisational productivity,
relationship and the work environment. This paper aims to
open such a discussion and provide some evidence to highlight
the impact that mindfulness can have in today’s workplace.
Background: The costs of ill-health as a result of stress
and other work related disorders is a significant drain on
resources. The HSE reported that an estimated 30 million days
were lost due to work-related ill health in 2006/07 in the
UK; around three quarters of the cases
were musculoskeletal disorders or stress, depression or anxiety.
In people terms, some 2.2 million people are reported to be
suffering from an illness they believed was caused or made
worse by their current or past work. Furthermore 13.6% of
all working individuals believed their work to be very or
extremely stressful and around ½ million reported levels
of stress that they believed was making them ill.
Mindfulness has for the past 30 years alleviated the pain
and the suffering of numerous medical and clinical patients,
recently it has started finding its way in organisational
settings and generating more interest among practitioners.
Mindfulness promotes a higher sense of awareness, which provides
a more inclusive and authentic view of the present moment,
which in turn can promote healthier behaviours and a healthier
organisational culture.
Methods: The paper draws from an analysis of the literature,
professional practice and academic research, and on the professional
experiential practice of the two presenters who have developed
these practices within organisational environments. The paper
will illustrate a sample of these both in personal development
and in skills development for stress management. In particular,
it will present the outline and preliminary results of a research
project aimed at reducing stress through mindfulness and it
will highlight ways of including mindfulness in the coaching
practice.
Conclusions: In conclusion, introducing mindfulness in the
workplace can contribute to a healthier work environment at
an individual, group and organisational level. Coaches, trainers,
leaders and every employee can benefit from learning how to
better actively engage in the organisational life. Mindfulness
can influence individuals, processes and policies and ultimately
it can contribute to creating an environment where failure
is accepted and opportunities are recognised, conflict is
managed and relationships become more productive, and stress
is combated and well-being is enhanced.
Biography
Oberdan
Marianetti is an Italian psychologist and specialises in using
Mindfulness to help manage stress and personal challenges.
He has worked on a number of assignments with organisational
clients and uses an integrated approach in his development
work. He has co-authored papers with Jonathan and they are
currently working on a chapter on mindfulness for a book on
Positive Psychology at Work, which is will be published later
this year.
Jonathan Passmore is a business psychologist who has worked
in organisations as a senior manager, having been both a chief
executive and Company Chairman. He has four degrees and is
completing his doctorate on coaching at the University of
East London. He has substantial experience of coaching senior
executives on behalf of Pricewaterhouse Coopers, IBM Business
Consulting and OPM, where he has worked for the past five
years before joining UEL.
He has written and spoken widely including papers in the UK,
USA and South Africa. He is the editor of the top selling
Excellence in Coaching: The industry guide. He is also the
author of Appreciative Inquiry for Organisational change,
published in January 2008 and Psychometrics in coaching, due
out in February 2008.
