The Hottest Old Tool Around
by Shirley Ryan
Whenever the discussion turns to health and wellness
systems there is a flurry of activity as we look for the best new fix.
What if using tried and true tools to keep us healthy can have a dramatic
effect and positive influence in our lives. Simply stated, meditation
is the hottest and most accessible old tool around today.
In fact, using meditative practices can prepare
you to see life in a whole new way. Truly meditating
takes us away from problems and what is wrong with a project. Then redirecting
our attention to what is right with a project gives us the energy to
fix what isn’t working. Ultimately this frees us to use a
more focused intention to succeed, and from the stand point
of our higher consciousness helps us to see tasks from a larger perspective.
Many corporations are using meditation as a way of
creating greater focus and clarity in the workplace. Employees who meditate
regularly come to work happier, with increased emotional stability, and
better work relationships. In addition, in this increasingly collaborative
approach towards work, it builds win-win attitudes within the company,
higher productivity, and greater problem solving skills. Inherent in
these spirit-filled leadership practices are healthier communities simultaneously
committed to both people and profits which also increase productivity
in the long run.
Some of the many ways one can meditate in Corporate
America is to practice being present in the here and now. This form of
meditation is called mindfulness or paying
attention during your activities. This does not take more time; it actually
uses less time, because the job is done more affectively the in the first
place. Of course, providing employees opportunities to meditate outside
of meetings enhances the process. Some ways to practice mindfulness or
staying focused on the present in meetings are:
- Only meet when it is important
to meet, establishing that everyone’s time is valuable
- Calm
your mind prior to meetings and presentations with basic breathing
techniques (breathe into a loose diaphragm for greater affect)
- Use
some gentle stretching to focus and relieve tension (Reach for the
ceiling, and down to the floor, twist at the waist, stretch neck
from side to side, chin to chest then all the way back)
- Begin meetings with a
private centering moment before discussions
- Create a philosophy of gratitude
for the opportunity to work together (This sets the stage for a willingness
to be flexible and participate fully in the process)
- When a team member remembers
a time when something didn’t work, reframe by bringing them back
to the hear and now to create a different scenario
- Direct attention to an agenda
of outcomes that must be met, staying within agreed upon time frames
- Maintain a posture of non-judgmental
thinking by reframing any negative statement
- Visualize outcomes with words
that are descriptive, results oriented, and clearly stated (Discuss
to ensure each member sees the same picture)
- Clearly state the main thrust
of the meeting in terms of action, ensuring all agree (If
not, work the project problem adding more information until it's clear)
- Get
confirmation from all team members that outcomes can be met in the
end
(Many times employees feel something will not work, but they stay silent
setting up a self-fulfilling prophecy--getting this into the open helps
you put thing into prospective)
Get everyone onboard by
painting a picture of results that succeed. Each team member must see
and agree on the same picture, a picture of what the team expects to
happen. When we visualize we put our intention on what we want to work
on. A more specifically crafted intention will produce greater results.
Remember whatever you believe is what your body and mind will
do. That is why sports psychologists use visioning to make athletes
stronger and more directed. So like any work you do with goal setting,
when you are thinking of your intention make sure it is clear, specific,
and achievable, then trust that it is being accomplished. As
we focus on being fully present there is a centering power within the
mind that we can tap to improve our state of living, working or create
the perfect mindset to see the results we want, and get it. In this
way, leadership can tap the hottest old tool around for great new results,
creating a healthier more dynamic and productive workforce.
Shirley
Ryan was led to create the book Searching for
the Waters of Antiquity a meditation tool, and a unique
integration of her extensive career experience and her skills
of painting and meditation. She is also the founder and president
of Working Together, a business specializing in managing life’s
changes in Mind, Body & Spirit through the coaching process. She
has worked as a professional life coach since 1994.
