Mindfulness in the Workplace Dr Dinkar Sharma School of Psychology Centre for Cognitive neuroscience and Cognitive systems
AIMS • • • •
What is Mindfulness Mindfulness Meditation Does mindfulness work- Review of research Mindfulness and the workplace
What is Mindfulness Mindfulness is described as an intentional engaging of a non-judgmental awareness of the present moment (Kabat-Zinn, 1990). The awareness that arises through intentionally attending in an open, caring, and discerning way (Shapiro & Carlson, 2009) Paying attention to what’s happening in the present moment in the mind, body and external environment, with an attitude of curiosity and kindness (All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mindfulness , 2015)
Attention: Attitude: Intention:
Attending to experience in the present moment Can be thought of as a highlighter How we relate to what is highlighted. Reflecting on values and goals
What is Mindfulness • Mindfulness can be trained.
• Methods for training mindfulness are found in all cultures and religions, but are central to the contemplative traditions of Asia, especially Buddhism. • Recent developments are free from any religious content. 1970’s John Kabat-Zinn (University of Massachusetts ) MBSR - Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course developed to help patients suffering from pain. Sitting meditation, body-scanning and mindful movement exercises Two-hourly weekly sessions over 8 weeks Daily practice using audio-guides at home 1990’s Zendal Segal (Toronto), Mark Williams (Oxford) and John Teasdale (Cambridge) MBCT- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy to help patients suffering depression. Sitting meditation, body-scanning and mindful movement exercises but also cognitive therapy Cognitive Therapy: demonstrates the links between thinking and feeling as well as accepting them, and not attaching or reacting to them.
Mindfulness audio • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEyaQ_i TBcs
Does it work? Reviews of empirical research - Change in health •
Meta-analysis of MBI show strongest effects for treatment of anxiety and/or mood-spectrum disorder (Vollestad, Neilson & Nielson, 2012).
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Moderate sized effects for somatic illnesses: cancer, diabetes, heart disease and chronic fatigue (Hofmann, Sawyer, Witt and Oh, 2010; Baer, 2003).
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Randomised control trials show benefits for a broad spectrum of psychopathologies: substance-use disorders, eating disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder. (Witkiewitz & Bowen, 2010).
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Improvements in cognitive function and social-emotional resiliency (Chiesa, Calati & Serretti, 2011).
Does it work?
Number of randomised control studies
In 2014 US Department of Veteran Affairs (Evidence-based Synthesis program) Summarised reviews of randomised controlled studies based on 81 reviews in the literature
Various Mindfulness based interventions (MBI) MBSR MBCT MBSR + MBCT Unique MBI’s
Does it work? Reviews of empirical research: changes in the Brain Tang, Hölzel & Posner (2015) The neuroscience of mindfulness meditation. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 16, 213-225 • • •
Reviewed 21 studies that have investigated changes in brain structure. Included traditions other than mindfulness meditation. Findings demonstrated a global medium effect size
Brain regions consistently altered in meditators: • • • •
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Frontopolar cortex (might be related to enhanced meta-awareness) Sensory cortices and insula (might be related to body awareness) Hippocampus (memory processes) Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) mid-cingulate cortex and orbitofrontal cortex (related to self and emotion regulation) Superior longitudinal fasciculus and corpus callosum (areas involved in interhemispherical communication)
Brain regions involved in the components of mindfulness meditation
Attention control
Anterior cingulate cortex and the striatum
Emotion regulation
multiple prefrontal regions, limbic regions and the striatum
Self-awareness
insula, medial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex and precuneus.
Benefits of Mindfulness A 12-month inquiry by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mindfulness How mindfulness training can benefit UK services and institutions.
Jenny Edwards CBE, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation said: "The Mindful Nation UK report comes at a pivotal time for mindfulness and for action on mental health. The evidence tells us that, properly taught, the practice of mindfulness helps many people maintain good mental health and to sustain recovery after illness.
Benefits of Mindfulness Recommendations •
HEALTH • Commission Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in the NHS. • Train 100 MBCT teachers a year for the next 5 years.. • Develop appropriate pathways for accessing MBCT for those with long term physical health conditions and a history of depression • NICE should review evidence for MBI in treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, cancer and chronic pain
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EDUCATION • DfE should designate three teaching schools to pioneer mindfulness teaching • Create a challenge fund for schools to apply for costs of training teachers in mindfulness
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WORKPLACE • Department for Business, Innovation and Skills should demonstrate leadership …to promote the use of mindfulness and develop an understanding of good practice • Commission pilot research studies on the role of mindfulness in the workplace. • Government departments should encourage the development of mindfulness programmes for staff in the public sector. • National Institute of Health Research should invite bids to research the use of mindfulness as an occupation health intervention.
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM • …implementation of NICE’s recommended of MBCT for recurrent depression within offender populations. • …fund a randomised controlled trial of MBIs amongst the UK’s offender populations.
Benefits of Mindfulness Recommendations • WORKPLACE • Department for Business, Innovation and Skills should demonstrate leadership …to promote the use of mindfulness and develop an understanding of good practice • Commission pilot research studies on the role of mindfulness in the workplace. • Government departments should encourage the development of mindfulness programmes for staff in the public sector.
• National Institute of Health Research should invite bids to research the use of mindfulness as an occupation health intervention.
Mindfulness and the workplace • Prevailing issues of work-related stress • Growing demands on adaptability • Raise the moral level of organisations
Work related stress Health and Safety Executive report 2015 • • • •
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Work related stress depression and anxiety continue to represent a significant ill health condition in the workforce of Great Britain. It is the single biggest cause of sickness in the UK. 0ver 10 million days are lost to stress each year – costing UK employers £1.24 billion Work related stress accounts for 35% of work related ill health and 43% of days lost, in 2014/15. The highest rates of work related stress remain consistently in the health and public sectors of the economy. Causal factors: workload, lack of managerial support and organisational change.
Mindfulness can help to reduce mind wandering
Growing demands on adaptability The Flux report 2014 “In five years’ time 91% of HR decision-makers think it is likely that people will be recruited on their ability to deal with change and uncertainty.”
Dealing with change/uncertainty: • Ability to adapt to change positively • Keeping calm in the face of difficulties • Persisting in the face of unexpected difficulties
Mindfulness can help to deal with change/uncertainty.
Raise the moral level of organisations • Public interest in morality has grown after the revelations of scandals of American companies like Enron or World Com & after the financial crisis in 2008. • National Business Ethics Survey (ERC, 2014) Indicated an improved situation: decline in observed misconduct. But reporting and retaliation had not improved: 1/3 do not report because of fear of retaliation from senior leaders
Raise the moral level of organisations • 4 steps of a moral decision-making process Rest (1986) : moral awareness, moral judgment, moral intent and moral action
• Predicting unethical behaviour: Kish-Gephart et al (2000)
suggest individual differences (i.e. self-control), the ethical issue, and organisational environment.
• Authentic leadership “leader behaviour that …promotes both positive psychological capacities and a positive ethical climate to foster greater selfawareness, an internalised moral perspective…(Walumbwa et al, 2008, pg94)
• Ethical leadership “the demonstration of normatively appropriate conduct through personal actions and interpersonal relationships, and the promotion of such conduct to followers through two-way communication, reinforcement, and decision-making “ (Brown et al 2005, pg120)
Mindfulness could support the development of ethical leaders and followers
Thank you for listening
