Time to Get Deep: Why CEOs Need to Embrace Mindfulness

What is mindfulness? 

Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and aware of your thoughts, emotions and surroundings without judgment. It involves paying attention to the present moment and not being distracted by worries about the past or future. Mindfulness is often associated with meditation, but it can be applied during any activity. 

“Mindfulness is [the] skill of having awareness of self and others, the ability to focus and pay attention to the moment with kindness,” said Ashley Baer, a wellness and mindfulness coordinator for the Forsyth County School District. “It’s presence and connection. We can’t connect if we are not first present.”

Mindfulness is often associated with enhancing our personal lives by improving our relationships and health. However, when professionals and business leaders embrace mindfulness, their companies can also reap these benefits: 

• Increased business longevity
• A happy and productive work culture
• Reduced stress, depression and anxiety
• Better decision-making
• Higher productivity
• Enhanced creativity

Why should CEOs embrace mindfulness? 

Embracing mindfulness helps to regulate mental, physical and emotional awareness. When CEOs practice mindfulness, they can do the following:

• Enhance their leadership skills
• Set an example for their team members
• Create better business goals
• Improve organizational outcomes

In fact, Huffington largely credits her successful leadership to meditation, a key mindfulness practice. “Meditation is not about stopping thoughts but recognizing that we are more than our thoughts and feelings,” Huffington said.

Emily Szajda, founder of Passport Meditation, agrees that mindfulness can be a game changer for business leaders. “For CEOs, who are often faced with high-stakes decisions and complex challenges, mindfulness offers a way to step back, pause and breathe and, from this place of grounding and clarity, respond rather than react,” Szajda explained. “Ultimately, a mindful CEO is better equipped to lead with empathy and authenticity, motivating teams to perform at their best.”

What are the benefits of embracing mindfulness for CEOs?

Mindfulness can be cultivated through various practices, including meditation — a structured method of focusing the mind. Here are some of its key benefits for CEOs and their teams:

• Mindfulness improves mental health. When practiced regularly, meditation can improve memory and focus. By keeping the brain healthy, leaders find it easier to self-regulate and make effective decisions. Szajda emphasized that mindfulness reduces stress and can help business leaders stay calm under pressure. “[This] not only benefits the leader’s well-being but also creates a more positive environment and organizational culture,” Szajda said.
• Mindfulness improves physical health. According to Baer, practicing mindfulness boosts immunity and reduces stress, which can have health benefits. As a bonus, improved physical health can reduce workplace absenteeism and overall healthcare costs while improving office morale. 
• Mindfulness fosters emotional intelligence. Meditation can help business leaders build critical emotional intelligence Emotional intelligence includes empathy, patience and better decision-making. When you practice mindfulness, you take better care of yourself, which, in turn, helps you treat your co-workers with respect and compassion. “[Mindfulness] could increase production with more staff focus,” Baer said. “But also, those who practice experience more contentment and improved communication, which makes for a better workplace.” 
• Mindfulness boosts productivity. A mind free of distractions allows for better focus and concentration. Mindfulness and meditation can reduce anxiety, improve concentration and ultimately boost productivity.
• Mindfulness enhances creativity. Mindfulness practices such as meditation can help leaders build critical thinking skills and encourage new ideas and solutions. By relaxing your mind, you can develop more creative business solutions. 

Tips for incorporating mindfulness as a CEO

Incorporating mindfulness into your leadership practices and workplace can enhance focus, reduce stress, and improve business and personal outcomes. Consider the following practical tips for integrating mindfulness practices into your daily routine. 

Create a welcoming space.

Mindfulness requires a tranquil space in the office. For example, you may intend to practice meditation at your desk because it would be convenient. However, you may easily become distracted, and others might seek your attention during a busy workday. Instead, a private room set aside for quiet time and meditation might be more conducive to meditation. 

If possible, designate a safe, quiet meditation and mindfulness space, and set up a schedule to maximize participation from other business leaders and employees. The area should be free of electronics, noise and overbearing odors. You can also use this area for formal mindfulness sessions. Some businesses invite experts to lead sessions, while others rotate team members versed in mindfulness practices. 

Start slowly, and lead by example.

Full adoption of mindfulness practices doesn’t happen overnight. Begin by incorporating mindfulness into your routine through meditation, deep breathing or mindful moments throughout the day. Once you’ve experienced the benefits firsthand, introduce the concept to your employees.

Leading by example fosters trust. If you consistently practice mindfulness, employees will likely notice and be inspired by a positive shift in your leadership. Encourage employees, especially those who may be skeptical, to try mindfulness for at least a few weeks to see if they notice any positive changes. 

Ensure inclusivity in your mindfulness program.

Engagement and inclusivity are vital to a successful mindfulness program, and everyone should have the opportunity to participate. Although scheduling can be challenging, consider offering several sessions during the day to accommodate all leaders’ and team members’ obligations and schedules. If you have a remote work plan, ensure that your teleworkers can participate.

One way to include the entire team in your mindfulness program is to go beyond formal scheduled sessions to incorporate mindfulness practices into ordinary workdays. “[Encourage] mindful moments before meetings [by having employees] tune into their senses,” Szajda advised. “[Use] brief breathing exercises, such as the cleansing breath or deep breathing, to promote presence and grounding.”

Szajda stressed that a mindfulness program should be accessible, relevant and engaging. “Mindfulness shouldn’t feel like an obligation but rather an opportunity for employees to learn new strategies in stress management to enrich their personal and professional lives,” Szajda said.

Be intentional when you’re implementing workplace mindfulness.

Mindfulness shouldn’t be a passing trend or a way to promote your business as having a positive workplace culture. Instead, a mindfulness program must be implemented intentionally and treated with respect. 

To ensure your mindfulness program succeeds, determine exactly what you want it to achieve. Here are some goals you might aim for with your mindfulness program:

• Reduce employee absenteeism
• Boost productivity
• Deepen colleague relationships
• Lessen workplace stress
• Create an employee-centric company culture

After you set your goals, schedule sessions to teach your team mindfulness techniques, such as meditation and deep breathing. Stay consistent, and ensure everyone feels included. Szajda recommended gathering employee feedback to tweak the program to your employees’ needs. 

“Engaged employees are more likely to participate when they feel the program was designed with their unique needs in mind, fostering a sense of ownership and community,” Szajda said.

Give your mindfulness program your all.

Consider the following best practices to help your program succeed:

• Hire the right mindfulness professional. Consider working with an experienced mindfulness professional who fits your company culture. The right mindfulness leader can make all the difference. “Mindfulness must begin with someone experienced, well-trained and versed in the practice who truly lives it and connects well with others in the workplace,” Baer explained. 
• Stay flexible, and cater the program to your team. For the best results, stay open-minded and inclusive as you implement a mindfulness program. Remember that you’re promoting a culture of wellness, so your activities and practices must resonate with your team. “Offer a variety of activities to meet diverse interests and needs, from yoga and meditation to fitness challenges, cultural immersions and cooking classes,” Szajda recommended.
• Include family and friends. Consider offering mindfulness seminars on a scheduled weekend where family or friends can participate with employees. Alternatively, incorporate subscriptions to wellness apps, like Headspace or Calm, if a weekend retreat isn’t in the company’s budget.
• Don’t force your mindfulness program. Your mindfulness program is meant to support you and your team. Even if you have found enormous benefits and are excited about mindfulness practices, don’t be overbearing as you introduce the concept to your team. “It is important to keep it optional and not forced,” Baer cautioned. “Nothing forced truly connects.”