Recently the new Chairman of Woolworths, Gordon Cairns said that through Mindfulness or Meditation he is learning how to be non-judgemental.
Now, whilst this quality of a non-judgemental attitude is intrinsic to Mindfulness or meditation sharp judgement is needed in the commercial world of business.
It will help not to confuse the world of business with the inner world and to think that Mindfulness will necessarily make you more money.
Mindfulness will help the individual to be more peaceful, less chaotic and perhaps more disciplined; in turn this might help the Leader to help the team or the employees feel happier which might in turn create more productivity or profit. However this is not the focus of Mindfulness.
So, what is it that all organizations need to focus on? How do we, as leaders, focus on the key drivers of value? How do we encourage those we lead to focus on the key drivers of value? Apart from the obvious critical drivers of profit, productivity and culture, it will definitely help if we can be aware of our monkey minds, thereby making better decisions.
To be aware of our monkey mind, it is first necessary for either Gordon Cairns or anyone else to understand the nature of the mind, rather than fight with it. This is the “Osho approach.”
Most of us, most of the time are run by, dominated by our thoughts or feelings. It follows that we tend to think we are those thoughts and feeling. Mindfulness or meditation is the state of simply being, just pure experiencing, with no interference from the body or mind. It’s a natural state but one which we have forgotten how to access.
Some Common Misconceptions.
“Meditation is…
1) Only for people who are on a spiritual search.
The benefits of meditation are manifold. Chief among them are the ability to relax and to be aware without effort. Useful tools for just about everyone!
2) A practice to gain “peace of mind.”
Peace of mind is a contradiction in terms. By its very nature the mind is a chronic commentator. What you can discover through meditation is the knack of finding the distance between yourself and the commentary, so that the mind, with its constant circus of thoughts and emotions, no longer intrudes on your inherent state of silence.
3) A mental discipline or effort to control or “tame” the mind, to become more mindful.
Meditation is neither a mental effort nor an attempt to control the mind. Effort and control involve tension, and tension is antithetical to the state of meditation. Besides, there is no need to control the mind, only to understand it and how it works. The meditator does not need to tame his mind, to become more mindful, but to grow more in consciousness.
4) Focusing, concentrating or contemplating.
Focusing, like concentrating is a narrowing of awareness. You concentrate on one object to the exclusion of everything else. By contrast, meditation is all-inclusive, your consciousness is expanded. The contemplator is focused on an object – perhaps a religious object, a photograph or on an inspiring aphorism. The meditator is simply aware, but not of anything in particular.
5) A new experience.
Not necessarily – sportsmen know this space, which they refer to as “the zone.” Artists know it – through singing, painting, playing music. We can know it through gardening, playing with the kids, walking on the beach or making love. Even as children we may have had experiences of it. Meditation is a natural state and one that you have almost certainly tasted, although perhaps without knowing the name of the flavour.”
It would be very misleading to suggest that you will make more money through the practice of Mindfulness although you might make more money; what may be more accurate is that whatever the outcome or the consequences of your practice of Mindfulness or meditation, you will definitely be less swayed by your thoughts and feelings and will feel less like the victim and more like the victor.
You will definitely become more sensitive, aware and maybe this flavour will filter through to your team and help them become far clearer and more fulfilled in their daily lives.
Now this is a good thing, right?
Cheers
Chris Borrett
Image Credit: FreeImages.com/Grant Yiu
If by chance, you have not encountered my previous posts outside this blog, one of my favourites is about “A Woman’s Labour of Love”. You have the luxury of reading it by clicking here.