Living in the Moment: Mindfulness in Business Teams

“With the past, there is nothing I can do, nor with future.” “I live now.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Have you ever had lunch at work and lost track of what you ate? It’s easy to get very focused on the task at hand. This is sometimes called “being in the zone” (or “in the flow”) or “being focused.” These phrases are positive because they have some positive meaning: productive, hard-working, and energized.

Mindfulness:

But when reality hits, such as when a client calls or an emergency arises, team members can’t keep their heads down. Hyper-focus, as the expression “being in a zone” may suggest, can be a good thing, but not always. Only in the present and now can you make an impact. Individual and corporate success depends on being present in the moment as a part of a team and not looking at the screen.

Mindfulness is a popular buzzword. It is a term that was rarely used in management, but it is based on Buddhist practices. Mindfulness means paying attention to purpose and being present in the moment. It is also non-judgmental. A Mindset of Mindfulness is a mindset that helps executives be more successful. Mindful leaders encourage mindful teams. Your team can become more aware immediately.

These are three tips to be more mindful of:

These three tips will help you and your team be present in the moment.

Are you in the zone? It’s essential to take a moment and notice what you are doing and why. Do you find this too much? If you need to set a reminder in Outlook, but if you don’t mind, stop and think about what you are doing. Every hour, you can return to reality. Hyper-focused people tend to lose track of time. You can take some time to just be. Take lunchtime as an example.

* Are you zoned out? It can also happen. If your mind wanders, don’t get discouraged or harshly judge yourself. Just bring your attention back to the task at hand and continue moving forward. You don’t have to react to your thoughts, even the negative ones.

* Be aware. Pay attention to where you “zone in” and “zone out.” What are your favorite activities? To achieve balance, bring more awareness to them. Don’t take things too seriously, and you won’t be able to act on them. Although emotions can be helpful for short-term productivity bursts, they don’t serve you long-term.

These are only simple awareness exercises. These are not life-altering changes. To start your day, you don’t have to get on the yoga mat or sit in a lotus posture. Just be aware of how it works for you at the moment.

There are three benefits to being mindful in the moment:

You can think of three things: the past, which is reliving the events that you did not like; the future, which is worrying about what you will do; and the present, which is the current moment. You can only have an effect in the present and not the future unless you use a time machine. Richard Carlson, Ph.D., stated in his classic book. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff that “Now is the only moment we have and the only thing we can control.”

There are many benefits to being present, both for individuals and teams. Here are three:

* Greater enjoyment. The mind is free to focus on work and other tasks. It’s easier to enjoy and appreciate things when your conscious mind is actively involved and not just sitting on the sidelines.

* Less stress. Stress is caused by worrying about the future and past. Being present is almost like meditation. You have fewer worries. You can simply experience more.

* Improved relationships. You will have better relationships if you are more mindful and committed to being a better listener, colleague, coworker, or manager. Better conversations are possible. You build bonds. This is the greatest thing a team manager can do for their team.

Teamwork

Mindfulness refers to awareness of moment-to-moment thoughts and actions for the individual and team. Mindfulness allows for better relationships and appropriate focus. It also helps to make employees and managers more present. Leaders who combine their current experience with focused attention are able to build deeper relationships with others and have more significant influence over the team. This is an excellent idea for any CEO, COO, or team manager.