It is a hot day in New York. Twelve members of a jury have to decide the fate of a young man accused of killing his stepfather. Eleven are convinced of his guilt but one lone dissenter changes their opinions. Because of his mindful manner and skill at persuading his peers to examine the evidence without prejudice, the defendant is declared not guilty.
The above storyline from the 1957 movie 12 Angry Men, starring Henry Fonda as the holdout juror, is one of many examples of how mindfulness can be successfully applied. Mindfulness can take many forms, from a leader knowing exactly what words to say and how to deliver them to inspire people, to an athlete able to harness strength, speed and skill to score the perfect goal.
Mindfulness, or constancy, can be referred to as a state of mind in which one is aware of one's behaviour and reaction to any emotional stimulus. Most of us associate this quality with Buddhism, whose adherents believe that by practising mindfulness one can attain nirvana. However, the benefits of practising mindfulness can also be realised by people who still want to enjoy life in the material world, which includes the world of business.
Tangible benefits: Regular practice of mindfulness and the benefits it offers should not be confused with meditation, or with some vague belief in the supernatural. I prefer to look at how mindfulness can deliver practical benefits to people and the society around them:
Being mindful provides emotional awareness, helping one to become fully aware of emotions and the consequences of one's actions.
Those who are mindful usually demonstrate compassion toward others. They tend to give and support others but with good reason, and not simply as a response to an emotional appeal for sympathy.
Being mindful prevents people from easily losing their temper and speaking without thinking first. This is important for business executives, as it promotes a working atmosphere based on logical conversation, leading to better teamwork and higher productivity.
Not being mindful can cause problems for executives. Someone may have a bee in his bonnet and focus too much on one problematic area without being able to find a way out. The more the solution eludes him, the more pressure he feels, and the cycle repeats itself.
It can be said that executives who are not mindful may be highly productive since they are not affected by the emotions of others. However, the downside is unpredictability: the unmindful executive may be quick to see red and behave unexpectedly on some occasions, causing damage beyond imagination.
Toward mindfulness: Mindfulness, emotional stability or constancy, is valued as one of the critical characteristics of a successful leader and executive. Being a mindful leader is not that difficult but it does require high discipline. Those who already have high emotional stability do not have to force themselves too much in comparison to those who are more easily upset or distracted. To become mindful, one can start to practise as suggested below:
Being in the present: This does not mean that one should not think of the past or future, but only when it is necessary, such as when working on a strategic plan or referring to a past event for future planning. The simple act of observing how we inhale and exhale can help one to stay in the present mindfully. Being in the present helps you to properly focus on what should be done.
Counting to 10: When facing a difficult situation, tell yourself not to respond so quickly to an emotionally arousing condition. Taking a moment to calm down will help you to handle an uncomfortable situation smartly.
Putting two and two together: Thoroughly thinking things through, based on logical argument, is essential for any executive who wants to be mindful. Telling yourself regularly that you need to put two and two together can remind you how to apply constancy to arrive at the appropriate behaviour and the right decision.
Observing current feelings: One easy exercise is to ask yourself what you are feeling at this moment, usually while doing something -- from punching the keyboard to talking or chewing. How does this feeling affect you physically? If you practise regularly, you will develop a heightened ability to be aware of your emotions and actions all the time.
Practising mindfulness activity: This can be any kind of activity in which one has to focus on one thing -- running, yoga, or sitting mediation for example. However, each activity will result in different degree of mindfulness. The ones that are close to one's normal daily life will be easier to practise compared with some activities that are not on the mainstream agenda such as walking meditation or chanting. In this regard, the latter will be more beneficial to experienced practitioners who have developed heightened awareness and find it easier to move out of their comfort zone.
Sorayuth Vathanavisuth is the principal and executive coach at the Center for Southeast Asia Leadership (SEAL) and lectures at Mahidol University's College of Management. His areas of interest are corporate strategy, executive coaching and leadership development. He can be reached at sorayuth@sealeadership.com