Mindfulness for Managers: Building a More Focused and Compassionate Leadership Style
Today's workplaces would benefit from leaders who do more than just get the job done. They would need leaders who are mindful and compassionate—people who can guide their teams with awareness and care. This kind of leadership, known as "mindful leadership," is becoming more popular because it helps create better work environments and happier employees.
Servant Leadership
The concept of servant leadership, which focuses on the needs of the team members before considering the needs of the leader, has gained significant traction over the past decade. Canavesi and Minelli (2021) study highlights that servant leadership is not just about being ethical; it's about fostering job satisfaction and commitment within the organisation. This leadership style has been studied extensively, with researchers developing ways to measure its impact across different cultural and economic contexts. The approach has proven effective in various settings, suggesting that prioritising the well-being of employees can lead to better organisational outcomes.
Integrating Mindfulness with Compassionate Leadership
Research by Miralles and colleagues in 2024 further supports the idea that organisations that embrace servant leadership principles are likely to witness higher levels of mindfulness among their employees. Miralles's findings, based on the analysis of 360 workers, show that servant leadership, through its compassionate framework, enhances mindfulness at work. This approach aligns with the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, which suggests that by nurturing positive capabilities like mindfulness, organisations can better maintain and grow their human resources.
Additionally, the 2020 insights from Lefebvre et al. emphasise the importance of self-compassion in developing employee resilience. Their research indicates that self-compassion is a key attribute that human resource development programs should aim to cultivate to boost resilience and adaptability among employees. Leaders play a crucial role in this by fostering environments that support self-compassion through training and empathetic leadership practices.
Practical Steps for Mindful Leadership
Managers interested in adopting a more mindful and compassionate leadership style can consider the following actionable steps:
Promote Mindfulness Practices: Implement regular mindfulness sessions to help employees and leaders become more aware of their mental and emotional states. Techniques such as meditation, yoga, and mindful breathing exercises can be incorporated into the daily work routine.
Emphasise Servant Leadership: Adapt leadership practices that focus primarily on the well-being and development of employees. This includes listening to their needs, helping them grow, and supporting them through challenges.
Enhance Self-Compassion: Encourage activities that increase self-compassion among staff, such as workshops on emotional intelligence and stress management. Leaders should also model self-compassion by handling their own mistakes openly and gracefully.
Develop Supportive Environments: Create a workplace culture that values open communication, where employees feel safe to express their thoughts and feelings. This can lead to more innovative and collaborative work.
Maintain Regular Communication: Schedule frequent one-on-one meetings with team members not only to discuss work progress but also to check on their well-being. These conversations can help leaders understand the personal and professional needs of their employees better.
The integration of mindfulness and compassion into leadership styles is not just beneficial for improving individual and organisational performance but is essential for cultivating a healthy, sustainable workplace culture. Managers who lead with mindfulness and compassion are better equipped to support their teams, leading to increased productivity, enhanced morale, and a stronger sense of community within the workplace. By embracing these practices, leaders can transform their approach and ensure their teams are not only successful but also genuinely thriving.
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References
Canavesi, A., & Minelli, E. (2021). Servant leadership: a Systematic Literature Review and Network Analysis. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 34(3). Ncbi. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10672-021-09381-3
Lefebvre, J.-I., Montani, F., & Courcy, F. (2020). Self-Compassion and Resilience at Work: A Practice-Oriented Review. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 22(4), 152342232094914. https://doi.org/10.1177/1523422320949145
Miralles, S., Pozo-Hidalgo, M., Rodríguez-Sánchez, A., & Pessi, A. B. (2024). Leading matters! Linking compassion and mindfulness in organizations through servant leadership. Frontiers in Psychology, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1346751
Why Mindfulness Is a Superpower: An Animation. (2015). Www.youtube.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6T02g5hnT4&ab_channel=Twill
