There is a growing amount of research-based evidence that mindfulness enhances the qualities that are essential to Emotional Intelligence (EI), which may also lead to an increase in effective leadership qualities.
How is this possible?
Of course, as mindfulness has become more popular as a treatment for a diverse set of physical and emotional conditions, the skeptics demand to be heard. While mindfulness practice is not a “cure-all” approach, nor is it a “quick-fix” solution, there are several undeniable areas in personal and professional growth where it can be successfully implemented.
Furthermore, the science is now discovering which type of mindfulness practice addresses various issues better. In fact, we are not only saying that “mindfulness works”, we are interested in what type of mindfulness practice works for which issue.
Two renowned authorities in the field of mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence, respectively R.J. Davidson and D. Goleman, conducted a thorough analyses of available research and published their findings in a brilliant book Altered Traits. In short, we can say that mindfulness practice produces long term benefits and literally rewires the brain and our habitual conditioned responses.
The advantages of mindfulness training are:
- Lessened stressed reactivity
- Increased emotional regulation
- Quick recovery from stress – aka resilience
- Increased empathy
- Boost in different aspects of attention and memory: ability to sustain attention, working memory
- Decrease in rumination – self-focused thoughts and feelings
All of these benefits of mindfulness training contribute directly to the key components of emotional intelligence:
- Improve relationships with human beings
- Improve communication with people
- Develop greater empathy skills
- Gain respect from – and for – others
- Manage change more confidently
- Feel confident and positive in attitude
- Reduce stress levels
While it is definitely not an “overnight fix” for those who struggle to keep purely emotional responses in check, mindfulness training can obviously have positive long-term effects on both your personal and professional lives.
Mindfulness Training in the Business World
If these arguments do not convince you, let’s take a look at a real-world example of how mindfulness training improved the performance and peace of mind in a corporate setting.
“Take, for example, Sean, a senior leader at a Fortune 100 corporation. He will tell you that mindfulness played a critical role in transforming his career. He had been experiencing a serious performance plateau that was, he learned, an effect of his micromanaging and intimidating his direct reports. Obsessed with hitting his quarterly targets, he had pushed his people as much as they could stand and his team’s output was at a standstill. He feared being fired or having to quit because of burnout from anxiety overload.
“And mindfulness, Sean says, saved him. After an intensive training in the practice, he was better able to stop himself when his impulse was to jump in and control, and instead adopt a more supportive style, letting subordinates take on more responsibility. As he got better at managing his own anxious impulses, the resulting atmosphere dropped the gauge on stress for everyone. His direct reports trusted him more and did better quality work. Instead of quitting or being fired, he was promoted.” (Harvard Business Review)
This is evidence that the practice of mindfulness had a direct effect on the way “Sean” dealt with emotion and social skills, as well as the way he perceived himself and others, improved relationships, and coped with challenges. These things are the very definition of Emotional Intelligence and he was able to use mindfulness to become a more effective leader.
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