Mindfulness is on trend in C-suites across the country as a way for leadership to reduce employee stress and anxiety. It channels Taoism and Buddhism into the workplace, promoting leadership and employees alike to focus on the present and take part in mindful exercises, such as yoga, meditation and controlled breathing.
However, David Brendel, MD, PhD, executive coach and career consultant, warns executives that there is such a thing as being too mindful. Here are his top two concerns with the "cult of mindfulness," as presented by Harvard Business Review.
1. Mindfulness can cause people to retreat from conflict and avoid critical thinking. While this strategy may help reduce stress temporarily, some issues cannot be resolved without addressing them head on, according to Dr. Brendel.
2. Imposing mindfulness top-down isn't mindful of those who may not feel comfortable with the strategy. For example, large group breathing exercises may actually make some employees feel awkward and have an adverse effect, according to Dr. Brendel. Leadership must be sure to offer mindful practices as a self-directed option, he says.
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