Why Mindfulness Training? Who has time to think?
Why do I incorporate mindfulness training in my programs?
At a recent monthly networking meeting of executives, the term mindfulness came up. Joel, a high energy serial entrepreneur — not sure what mindfulness meant — couldn’t understand all the buzz regarding it. Challenging me, he wondered what mindfulness had to do with my coaching and training programs.
I took time and a deep breath to think of how to explain the concept of mindfulness to an entrepreneurial, multitasking, millennial mind working at warp speed. My lack of an immediate response to his challenge clearly agitated him. Anxiously, Joel repeated his question which allowed me more time to take another deep breath before I responded. I asked him if he is a multitasker.
Joel confessed that constant multitasking is part of his psyche. He was taken back when I relayed to him the amount of research and studies that show people who multitask are on average 35% less effective in what they do. In other words, the research consistently shows how much time multitaskers waste and how their outcomes are often negatively affected by multitasking.
Who has time to think?
Once again pressing me, he asked “what is mindfulness?” Simply put, I responded, mindfulness means being fully present in the moment with no prejudgment and with a purpose. Still agitated he pressed me to more fully explain what mindfulness is. I told him it was the opposite of mindlessness — the opposite of multitasking. Defensively Joel took the position that in this fast-paced, digital world you can’t survive and grow a business without the ability to multitask. I asked him when was the last time he took time to think. Joe’s quick response was “who has the time to think if they want to survive.”
I pointed out to him and listed for him a number of conservative companies, famous athletes, sports teams, world recognized performers and corporate leaders who study and go through mindfulness training —who are taking the time to think. Who are enjoying the personal and professional benefits of meditation to learn how to be mindful and to be fully present in the moment.
Joel final response was “soft skills don’t cut it in the digital age.”
As a coach, trainer and consultant, Larry Blumsack partners with people and organizations on the move and those already there to accelerate their communication, presentation and speaking skills to be on par with their ambition. Through one-on-one coaching and group training Larry helps leaders and aspiring leaders elevate their presence and communication skills to influence more people, sell more products-services-ideas and inspire others more successfully than they ever imagined.
Larry is the bestselling author of Face-to-Face is The Ultimate Social Media and founder of Zoka Institute and Zoka Training®. Zoka Training® — Mind/Voice/Body/Mindfulness in sync — is the result of Larry’s 45 years as a coach, acting teacher, actor, voice-over artist, theater and TV director/producer, radio & TV commentator and show host, speaker, trainer, serial entrepreneur, and syndicated columnist. Larry was a founding member of the theater department at Northeastern University.
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