When considering the impact of mindfulness and the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace, we can simply look at the numbers. Workforce consulting firm LifeMeetsWork conducted a survey, confirming that stressed leadership results in a negative employee experience—with detrimental effects on a company’s bottom line.The study included 1,000 college-educated students working in the U.S., aged 18-70. Respondents were asked about their leader’s ability to handle stress and contributions to the workplace, as well as their own working experience. According to respondents, only 7% believe that their stressed leaders effectively lead their teams, and only 11% of employees with stressed leaders are highly engaged at work. In short, when a leader or manager is under considerable stress, the aftershocks extend across the team—as well as the company.
Empowering mindful leaders and cultivating a culture of consciousness in the workplace can benefit all involved. Read on to explore the characteristics of many mindful leaders—traits that can help anyone lead from a more authentic and effective place.
Empathy
Being able to put oneself in another’s shoes, to understand another’s struggle and situation, is empathy. This trait allows mindful leaders to be fair and kind—despite differences of opinion. In a diverse workforce, with employees who come from different backgrounds and cultures, it’s particularly important for leadership to show compassion and empathy for inclusion.
Open attitude
Great leaders aren’t always happy, but they do seek to overcome challenges with curiosity and a willingness to grow. Being a mindful leader means assuming good intent and approaching tough situations—from conversations to decision-making—with an attitude of acceptance.
Groundedness
Mindful leaders are grounded. Simply put, they allow and accept stressful situations, without getting caught up in the chaos. A sense of being present, calm, and self-aware is common amongst great leaders—when leadership is grounded, it trickles down into a sense of security and trust amongst teams.
Resilience
Resiliency is the ability to bounce back from setbacks—to cope with challenge and change, and come out stronger. In a leadership role, you have the opportunity to model this behavior for the team. Whether it’s a business pivot, a reorganization, or just an everyday hurdle, teams look to leaders for reaction and direction. Resilient leaders have put in the self-work and employed mental health and well-being tools to be prepared for tough times.
Mindfulness is a practice, not a destination. Calm for Business offers employees the tools they need to improve mental fitness and inner strength–learn more here.
