Introduction to Mindfulness_349810_bookemon_ebook.pdf Coaching and Practising Mindfulness | Page 71

Benefits include improvements to physical and mental health, with an
increased ability to be resilient and manage stress. For employers, this
translates into higher productivity and reduced sickness absence
levels, among other things.
TfL, for example, has seen the number of days taken off because of
stress, anxiety and depression fall by 71% since introducing
employees to mindfulness. Other benefits include heightened
emotional intelligence, improved decision-making and strategicthinking abilities, a heightened ability to focus and enhanced
creativity.
Some remain sceptical and believe that mindfulness is just the latest
fad, while others are unaware of the benefits or fear being labelled as
unprofessional.
As a business journalist and coach, I, too, feared the latter and
remained a "closet meditator" for years. However, I soon discovered
that many of my clients found mindfulness very helpful. I lay to rest
any residual concerns about mixing mindfulness with business after
researching my book Mindful Coaching.
My research included a literature review of more than 70 research
papers and 80 books, as well as interviews with employers, academics,
coaches, trainers, leaders, and mindfulness and neuroscience experts.
I also carried out a survey of 156 coaches - the Mindfulness in
coaching 2012 survey.
There is plenty of evidence, including from the mental health arena
and the field of neuroscience, showing how mindfulness can help
reduce stress.
Developing these skills help people become more engaged in their
work, more energised and less anxious, and they suffer from fewer
symptoms of stress, according to the MHF.

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