How Meditation Can Help You Climb The Corporate Ladder

We all experience a lot of stress in our lives that can be particularly constricting to our productivity and potentially, and to our next promotion.

How often have you sat at your desk, trying to be creative or efficient, but found yourself staring blankly at a flashing line on the computer screen? The mental blocks that we encounter day after day are a product of our brains trying to process too many different things at once; better known as stress.

A method that you may not have originally considered helpful for you to climb up the corporate ladder is meditation.

Meditation practices are techniques that encourage and develop concentration, clarity, emotional positivity, and composure. Aren’t these all valuable aspects for trying to move up the corporate ladder?

Whether it is transcendental, chakra, zen, azem… meditation can seem way too left of field, too difficult, and time consuming. That is quite understandable. After all, how is one supposed to sit quietly and think of nothing for something to break up your lunch period, especially when there is a promotion to be had?!

Recent research has shown that meditation allows for the brain to process more cognitive and emotional information, providing it with greater freedom to think outside the square.

Perhaps we are simply re-affirming centuries old Buddhist beliefs!

The solution?

Taking five minutes to calm your breathing and clear your mind of any trivial concerns allows you to open up your mind to focus on the task at hand. This can simply be achieved by closing your eyes and focusing on three deep breaths. Or by taking a simple bathroom break or  a short walk outside to help clear your mind from the fogginess.

Some simple meditation can help you start the day with clarity and freedom for creativity. You might just find that work life becomes a lot easier and that corporate ladder becomes that much shorter!

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Mindfulness - reducing stress and improving communication in the workplace

As a society our overall wellbeing is decreasing. Findings by the Australian Psychology Society
detailed that in 2013, the rate of stress, depression, and anxiety reported among people had risen compared to the previous two years of research. In particular, younger people are seen to be reporting the negative symptoms of depression and anxiety at a higher rate than their older peers. Furthermore, workplace wellbeing was also reported as lower compared with previous years.

With the rate of mental health issues rising, large companies have begun utilising Mindfulness in the workplace to ensure they give their employees the best possible chance to be resilient and self-sufficient in neutralising the daily stressors that they encounter.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is non-judgemental, open and curious awareness of oneself in the present moment; such as awareness of our thoughts, emotions, and reactions. Research shows that developing this level of introspection has positive effects for reducing stress levels, regulating emotions and emotional reactions, promoting enhanced decision making, and decreasing negative thought patterns which can interrupt positive functioning throughout the day.

Mindfulness in the Workplace

Seeing the positive effects mindfulness training can provide, it is no wonder that large companies such as Apple and Google (among many others) are arming their employees with the skills mindfulness can provide. Increasing effectiveness at work, the ability to handle conflict better through emotional regulation, and decreased workplace tension are just some of the benefits that implementing mindfulness practices offer. A prime example of mindfulness implementation within the workplace is Google; who run seven-week long classes for employees to focus on developing mindfulness skills useful for dealing with the stressful corporate world. Although smaller companies won’t have the resources for a seven week long course, introducing simple mindfulness techniques to employees can still have resounding results in helping reduce stress and improve the wellbeing of employees.

In any industry, increasing the wellbeing of employees is always of benefit to a company. Through the techniques of mindfulness, the added development of increased emotional stability and positive thought patterns will only improve morale and the company environment.