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The Case for Competency and Leadership Development
The skills needed for a leader to thrive in a matrix operating environment can be identified, developed and honed. The skills essential for success are:
- Empathy
- Conflict management
- Influence
- Self-awareness
(Leadership 2030 Study Hay Group 2011)
Tech Worker Superior Performers Skills
Emotional Intelligence skills are trainable and a study spanning thousands of superior performers in unique roles found the skills leading to superior performance in Tech Worker’s are:
- strong achievement drive and high achievement standards
- ability to influence
- conceptual thinking
- analytical ability
- initiative in taking on challenges
- self-confidence
(Google SIY 2012)
The Case for Workplace Mindfulness
Mindfulness is one of two most essential life-skills for the 21st century (INSEAD School of Business). Mindfulness training is synonymous with self-awareness and is the only form of training shown to provide the following sustainable evidence-based results:
Leadership efficacy – subordinates of leaders with high trait mindfulness were higher in a range of performance outcomes (Reb, Narayan, and Chaturvedi, 2012)
Job Experience – trait mindfulness is related to job satisfaction (Irving, Park & Dobkin, 2012)
Decision making – trait mindfulness has inverse relationship with sunk cost decision (Hafenbrack et al, 2013)
Job performance – therapists with mindfulness training had better patient outcomes (Dekeyser et al., 2008)
Negotiation – mindfulness intervention led to better outcomes in negotiation task (Reb, Narayan, and Chaturvedi, 2012)
Ethical conduct – trait mindfulness correlated with less cheating (Ruedy & Schwaitzer, 2010)
Resilience – Marines engaging in pre-deployment mindfulness training experienced an increase in psychophysiological resilience (Jha et al, 2010
Communication – More mindful healthcare providers have higher-quality and more patient centric communication (Beach et al, 2013)
Effects of mindfulness on personal health
Stress reduction (Hoffman et al. 2010)
Significant reduction in anxiety and panic attack maintained over three years with excellent compliance. (Miller and Kabat-Zinn, 1995)
Reduces depressive symptoms and rumination (Chambers et al. 2008)
Improvements to working memory (Jha et al. (2010)
Increasing focus and attentional functioning (Moore and Malinowski. 2009)
Less emotional reactivity (Ortner et al. (2007)
Relationship satisfaction and ability to respond to relationship stress (Barnes et al. 2007)
Significantly more rapid advancement through stages of grief with a chronic pain population (Sugala and Rice, 2004)
Decreased left hemispheric activation and improvement in overall brain and immune functioning (Davidson and Kabat-Zinn,2003).
Effects of mindfulness on healthcare professionals
Decreased mood disturbances, including stress, anxiety and fatigue (Rosenzweig, Reibel, Greeson, Brainard, & Hojat. 2003)
Helps develop empathy toward clients (Aiken. 2006)
Foster emotional intelligence and social connectedness (Cohen & Miller (2009)
Increased patience, intentionality, gratitude and body awareness (Rothaupt & Morgan. 2007)
Greater attention and self-regulation (Tang et al. 2007)
Useful Links
Effects of Mindfulness on Psychological Health: A Review of Empirical Studies, Shian-Ling Keng, Moria J. Smoski, Clieve J. Robins. 2011 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3679190/
The neuroscience of mindfulness meditation. Tang YY, Hölzel BK, Posner MI. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2015 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25783612
Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density. Hölzel BK, Carmody J, Vangel M, et. al. Psychiatry Res. 2011 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21071182
Association of an educational program in mindful communication with burnout, empathy, and attitudes among primary care physicians. Krasner MS, Epstein RM, Beckman H, et. al. JAMA. 2009 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19773563
What are the benefits of mindfulness. Daphne M.Davis, PhD, and Jeffery A. Hayes, PhD. 2012 http://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/07-08/ce-corner.aspx