Overview

Some of the world's leading companies including Google, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, Apple Computers, Yahoo and KPMG have invested in mindfulness training for their employees. Why?  Because it is a highly effective way to improve performance and well-being. 

Mindfulness is a mind-body practice, one that enables us to use our full psychological and creative potential by training ourselves to pay attention to our present moment experience in a way that is both accepting and allowing. This enhanced state of moment-by-moment awareness then becomes the springboard for more effective, healthier ways of being, working and relating.

More than 2500 scientific research studies worldwide have revealed the mental and physiological advantages of the mindfulness process. Key benefits include a significant improvement in focus, concentration and attention; greater personal and inter-personal effectiveness; enhanced ability to cope with pressure and stress and maintain a sense of inner peace, balance and presence even in the midst of a busy work life.

Business-Related Mindfulness Research

The popularity of training in mindfulness within the business world is in part due to research carried out by the American Institute of Health, University of Massachusetts, and the Mind/Body Medical Institute at Harvard University. Evidence-based studies from these renowned institutions have cited the following as specific benefits of mindfulness for businesses:

• Reduced costs of staff absenteeism caused by illness, injury, stress
• Improved cognitive function - including better concentration, memory, learning ability and creativity
• Increased productivity and improved overall staff and business wellbeing
• Reduced staff turnover and associated costs
• Enhanced employer/employee and client relationships
• A visible and tangible corporate responsibility stance
• Enhanced employee job satisfaction

Purpose of the Course

This enlightening and practical one-day course introduces participants to the practice of mindfulness, provides teaching in the core mindfulness practices and supports the cultivation of a more mindful approach to life and work.

Course Content

Understanding Mindfulness

• What it is, why it is so important in work, life and relationships
• Research & benefits of mindfulness
• Brain plasticity & the art of mind training

The Mindfulness Experience

• Engaging the present moment with awareness
• Discovering the gifts when we engage with life as it is

Automatic Reactions

• Mindfulness v Mindlessness
• How automatic reactions limit our creativity and potential

Stress Reduction 

• Stress = resistance to reality
• How to access calm, alert presence when you choose

Emotional Mindfulness 

• Illuminating emotional avoidance and control strategies
• How to work emotions in a way that liberates their innate creative energy

Empathy / Connection 

• How to access the experience of connection
• Powerful processes for building empathy, listening and understanding

Liberating potential and performance 

• The 4 zones - burnout, survival, performance and rejuvenation
• Living with balance
• Whole brain thinking and creativity

Building a personal mindfulness practice

Mindfulness Resources

Included within the cost of the workshop are: course handouts and access to 5 guided meditation audio downloads, online videos and interactive mindfulness-based exercises.

Key Benefits

Having completed the training and continued to use the mindfulness-based tools for at least 20 minutes on most days for a minimum of 8 weeks the majority of delegates will experience a significant improvement in their ability to:

• manage stress and stressful situations
• experience a sense of well-being and inner calm
• focus on one task at a time
• manage their emotions and disengage negative thinking
• think creatively and find new solutions
• listen and empathise
• relax and enjoy the present moment

and notice a positive impact on their

• productivity and efficiency
• personal and professional relationships
• energy and enthusiasm for life
• level of self-awareness and awareness of others
• department/team
• leadership capabilities