A year after completing the Oxford Mindfulness programme ‘Mindfulness: Teaching in the Workplace’, Susan Keane shares her experience and how it’s shaped her approach to offering mindfulness to organisations.
Mindfulness in the Workplace
It’s approaching a year since I completed the Oxford Mindfulness programme Mindfulness: Teaching in the Workplace and I still sense gratitude for the learning and sharing I experienced during the course.
As we navigate the technological revolution that is upon us, I find it fascinating how group dynamics evolve in the virtual space so many of us regularly occupy. And so too was my amazement as to how the 2022/2023 cohort of MTW (Mindfulness Teaching in the Workplace) evolved.
We were an international group of experienced mindfulness teachers coming from all corners of the world. Each of us holding a common intention to learn and explore how mindfulness can be meaningfully integrated into the workplace.
During our time together we got to share, collaborate, and work on a range of projects which resulted in building great connections with our fellow participants, some of which I am still in contact with.
Connection within the group was nurtured through the programme design and the skilled facilitators. What struck me was the expertise of each of the facilitators in holding a safe virtual space we occupied week-by week over the course of the programme. Psychological safety is regularly espoused by organisations; however, it takes time to build and requires noticing.
The facilitators, through their grounded presence, nurtured awareness of the group dynamics at work. There was an awareness of the emotional landscape within the group to enable healthy ventilation of opinions.
The training continuously supported open communication through a range of channels, which resulted in deep collaboration among my fellow participants, which still exists to this day.
As well as evidenced-informed content, there was a focus on practical course work. We reviewed case studies, we developed proposals for a range of business sectors, information was shared and each of us had opportunities to present to the group. For many, discomfort landed when learning this approach to ‘selling mindfulness’, however it was done in a way that does not dilute the mindful foundations.
The business world tends to be myopic in nature, often narrowing attention to budgets and market share with little regard for the hard-to-quantify return on investments. Mindfulness is often relegated to a nice-to-have offering without due regard to a wide range of benefits including building connection in an increasingly disconnected world. The training provides an insight into the reality of creating a business case for workplace mindfulness-based interventions.
One key take-away for me was the value mindfulness truly offers to organisations who are committed to integrating a sustainable mindful approach to work. As a mindfulness teacher I am regularly asked to facilitate once off mindfulness programmes. Before the course, I would accept and deliver.
However, since graduating from the training, I truly understand the path I am on in terms of promoting and educating businesses on delivering a sustainable and safe approach to workplace mindfulness training.
So often, as mindfulness teachers, we default into automatic pilot when promoting the benefits. We don’t mean to, but when I reflect, I know that this is what I did in the past. I was blinkered in terms of its benefits.
Since participation in the Mindfulness: Teaching in the Workplace programme, I notice I am more nuanced in my approach. My conversations with potential clients moved from a push to a collaborative approach. The focus is on understanding the organisation. I don’t automatically accept the ‘job’. I encourage open intentional client conversations. We explore the motivations for introducing mindfulness.
Through such conversations potential challenges unfold and listening rather than solving takes centre stage. Being present, rather than striving, I understand the client better. Such an approach develops a deeper connection with the client and supports my role in delivering a workplace mindfulness programme that addresses the organisation’s needs.
In summary, if you are interested in delivering mindfulness in the workplace, it is important you understand the business, you have a conviction about mindfulness, how it supports the workplace, and have knowledge about the client’s culture. Does the organisation take employee wellbeing seriously?
Additionally, if interested in deepening your understanding about positioning mindfulness as credible effective well-being tool, I highly recommend the Mindfulness: Teaching in the Workplace programme.
The next Mindfulness: Teaching in the Workplace training starts 21st February 2025. If you are an experienced mindfulness teacher who would like to build the skills and competencies required to offer mindfulness training in organisational contexts, find out more and apply.
