The Mindful Workplace

This book offers a practical and theoretical guide to the benefits of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in the workplace, describing the latest neuroscience research into the effects of mindfulness training and detailing an eight-week mindfulness training course. Provides techniques which allow people in organizations to listen more attentively, communicate more clearly, manage stress and foster strong relationships Includes a complete eight-week mindfulness training course, specifically customized for workplace settings, along with further reading and training resources Written by a mindfulness expert and leading corporate trainer

Foreword ix Preface xiii Introduction: The Business Case for Mindfulness Training 1 1 What Is Mindfulness? 13 2 What Is Mindfulness Practice? 31 3 Positive and Negative Stress: Up and Down the Yerkes–Dodson Curve 57 4 Approach and Avoidance: Learning New Ways to Be with What Is 73 5 Metacognition: Knowing Your Thoughts as Thoughts 89 6 Respond: Learning Not to React 101 7 Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence: Positive Relationships at Work 111 8 Mindfulness for Leaders 127 9 Mindfulness in Coaching 145 10 Living Mindfully 157 11 Putting on an Eight-Week Mindfulness Course in a Workplace Setting 163 Appendix 1: Good Practice Guidance for Teaching Mindfulness-Based Courses 183 Appendix 2: Review of Significant Mindfulness Research 187 Appendix 3: Further Reading 191 Appendix 4: Further Training and Other Resources 193 Index 195