Mindfulness at Work: What the Founders of Headspace and Buddhify Can Teach You

These 4 strategies help you make better decisions and cultivate greater human connection at work.

You may have heard that mindfulness meditation is an undervalued self-development practice that can help you train your brain to focus on the present moment. For busy entrepreneurs, mindfulness based stress reduction can become a useful way to not only manage skyrocketing stress levels, but it can prevent burnout, and a foggy mind that can't always be trusted to make the best decisions.

According to the New York Times, practicing mindfulness by learning to train our wandering mind to focus on the present moment over and over again, helps us develop greater focus at work. The Harvard Business Review also found that practicing mindfulness meditation for 10 minutes a day reduces our fight-or-flight and knee-jerk reactions so that we are more likely to respond using our executive functioning part of the brain which is the center for logical thought and impulse control.

But who has time during the day to meditate, right?

One way is to use mindfulness meditation apps. I'll admit: I often use them to give my brain the breaks it needs so I can be fresh when coming up with ideas or solving problems in my business. I like that I can set a timer on the app for as little as three to 15 minutes a day, if that is all the time I have to be still and meditate.

The apps offer guided meditation and mindfulness exercises that last from a few up to 30 minutes. Some also have specialized programs to help with issues like sleep, stress eating, and relationships.

For many business people, meditation apps may help them feel calmer and more focused. Bill Gates, for example, is a fan of meditation and meditation apps. One study by Headspace (an admittedly biased source) and Stanford University (probably a less-biased source) had 39 people do 10 sessions on a mindfulness app for about 100 total minutes. Afterwards, the subjects reported having more positive emotions and feeling less irritability.

Recently, I spoke to the founders of two popular mindfulness apps, Headspace co-founders Andy Puddicombe (a former Buddhist monk) and Rich Pierson, and Buddhify founder Rohan Gunatillake. I was interested to know, as entrepreneurs themselves, how they practice mindfulness and incorporate it into their own businesses. Here are four lessons that stood out:

1. Make your values your "True North." 

Many entrepreneurs launch businesses built around sets of values. Those values become difficult to maintain as the company grows. They get pushed aside when opportunities (and ego) inevitably occur.

Gunatillake says his mindfulness practice helps him stay focused on his original intentions. "You should always be clear about your motivations," he says. "We often say, 'I'm doing something for this reason,' but actually you're not making decisions based on that. This is why you should always live your values beyond just writing them on the wall, so to speak, so they truly run through everything you do."

I have found this to be true myself in my own businesses. It's important to take the time to define your own personal purpose and values in why you do what you do. This serves as my guiding light and I map every business decisions I make back to these core values and  test whether the decision is aligned or not.

2. Be open to feedback.

Pierson says that incorporating mindfulness into his work helps him better interact with his employees. For example, his meditation practice helps him slow down and remind himself to be fully present and engaged during team meetings. It also helps him be more open to taking in feedback without his ego getting in the way. "I am able to take in feedback from my team and learn about the different ideas people have," he says. "It's a simple thing, but it lets me have greater connection with my people." He also does this by not having tech in the meeting that may distract him, such as his phone. 

3. Know the tradeoffs.

Everyone's idea of success is different. No matter your ultimate business goal, be honest about what it will take and what you might have to give up to achieve it.

Gunatillake notes that the business world's obsession with growth often ignores the potential downsides. "Want to build a billion-dollar business? Is it even possible with no negative consequences?" he asks. "There are always tradeoffs. What is good for investors may not be in the service of your customers and vice versa."

Always be mindful about how you define success and what is your endgame. For me, I realized that my yoga studio was more of a purpose-driven business than a wealth engine. As long as it covers its costs and continues to bring wellness to our customers, it serves its purpose.

4. Practice what you preach.

Pierson and Puddicombe agree that one of the best ways to spread the benefits of mindfulness in your business is to be a strong advocate. "Sharing what works for you is seen as authentic for the people around you," says Puddicombe. "Don't simply tell people about a something that could help them. Show them."

Says Pierson: "Simply say, 'I'm doing this. This is the benefit I've had, and I would love to offer it to you.' It gives people permission to try." Your specific approach to mindfulness may not work for everyone. However, by sharing your experiences, you can help others find their own path toward mindfulness.

So the next time you're feeling stressed at work, find a quiet space for a few minutes, close your eyes and simply focus on your breath. If your mind wanders to all the work you need to do, gently bring it back to focus on your breath going in and out of yoru nose. By paying attention to your breath for just a few minutes, you'll feel your nervous system relax and when you're done, you'll feel refreshed and better able to focus on the task at hand.

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AT INC.COM ON: MAR 1, 2019

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