Mindful Listening for Leaders

APracticalToolforEngagement
 DeiricMcCann
Fivebestsellingbusinessbooks
1000+articleson
managementtopics

ExecutiveVicePresident
Europe
Whatismindfulness?
Addthesenumbersoutloud
1,000
40
1,000
30 5,000
1,000
20
1,000
10
Addthesenumbersoutloud
1,000
40 1040
1,000 2040
30 2070
1,000 3070
20 3090
1,000 4090
10 4100
7
Pick a card and focus on
it quietly for a moment

StolenfromProf. EllenLanger
 Look into my eyes.
Just think about your card.
Is your card gone?
 Sometimestheconsequencesof
mindlessnessaremuchmoreserious
Recentestimatesarethatyou
canloseupto40%ofyour
productivityifyoumultitask

Susan Weinschenk Ph.D. Psychology Today, Sept 2012

 Mindfulness:LaymanDefinition

MindfulnessisBEINGinthehereandnow,
beingpresent,beingmindful.

ItisNOTbeinglostinthought,distracted,or
overwhelmedbydifficultemotions.
- Andy Puddicombe
 CriticalPoint#1:

Nomatterwhatyouredoing,youre
doingiteithermindfullyormindlessly
 CriticalPoint#2

Allstudiesshowgreatimprovementsin
everything:competence,creativity,
psychologicalwellbeing,healthand
engagementwhenwearemindful
 IFInsurance,Sweden

Results(6400employees):
88%ofparticipantsreportedahighlyincreased
abilitytostayfocused
76%reportedhighlyincreasedpositive
relationshipswithintheirteams
68%reportedhighlyincreasedpersonalefficiency
andproductivity
60%reportedhighlyincreasedabilityto
counteractstress
 TransportforLondon

Programmefocusedonreducingstressand
increasingresilience
Resultsafterthreeyears,with1,250participants:
Daysoffforstress,anxietyanddepressionfellby71%
Absencesforallconditionshalved.
80%reportedimprovementsintheirrelationships
79%spokeofimprovementsintheirabilitytorelax
64%toldofimprovementsinsleeppatterns
53%saidtheywerehappieratwork.
 Cambridgeshire&PeterboroughNHS

93% 100%:improvedperformanceatwork
45% 59%:greatorsignificantperformanceincrease
100%saidthatmindfulness:
helpedthemfunctionbetterwhenunderpressure
helpedthemimprovemanagementofstrongemotions&
difficulties
93%saidthatmindfulness:
helpedthemimproverelationshipswithcolleagues
helpedthemfocusontheirworkbetter
Averagetimespentpracticingeachday:15minutes
SohowdoIbecome
moremindful?
Mindfulawarenessisallaboutattention
andwhereweCHOOSEtoplace
itatanymomentintime
BrainTraining
 5minuteattentiontrainingexercise

Startby:
Settinganintentiontobeattentive
Sittingupstraight
Threeslowdeepbreaths
FindyourSeat&Feet
Thoughts&sensations
Acknowledge
Dontjudge itsnotafailure
Returntothebreath
Whatdidyounotice?
Intention: TheProcessofMindfulAttention
Increaseattention
(Reducestress)
Attentionis:
Follow Focused
Breath Open
Calm

Regain
Attentional Distraction
Focus
Attentionis:
Attitude: Ruminating
Fromselfcritical Worrying
tokind/curious Fantasising
 Whenyouneedtolisten

Startwith:
Setanintentiontobeattentivetothespeaker
Situpstraight
Threeslowdeepbreaths
FindyourSeat&feet
Thoughts&sensations
Acknowledge
Dontjudge itsnotafailure
Returntolistening
 Whenyouneedtofinishatask
Startwith:
Setanintentiontofinishthetaskathand
Situpstraight
Threeslowdeepbreaths
FindyourSeat&feet
Thoughts&sensations
Acknowledge
Dontjudge itsnotafailure
Returntothetaskathand
 Afinalthought
Atanymoment,theonlytruecertaintyisourabilitytopay
attention toonethingoranother somethinginourbody,in
ourmind,orinoursurroundings.

Whatareyougivingyourattentiontointhismoment?

Whateveryourepayingattentiontoisbydefinitionyourhighest
priorityrightnow doyouwant toassignthatthingthehighest
priorityinyourlife(evenforalittlewhile)?

Dr. JackBennett
Mindful Listening for Leaders
APracticalToolforEngagement