Being an effective manager requires a strong work ethic and the ability to guide those on your team to work toward success. Taking a more mindful approach to managing your team can help you to bring out the best in people.
Mindfulness can be defined as a “psychological process of bringing one’s attention to experiences occurring in the present moment”.
Many people use mindfulness as an approach to self-improvement and wellbeing, but it can also be used in a business context.
With countless projects, tasks and employees to manage, it’s easy for managers to feel drained and over-whelmed. Mindfulness is all about living in the moment. A mindful approach to business encourages managers to slow down, take a breath and focus on doing one thing (and devote your whole attention on doing that one thing, properly).
We are all in constant communication with others through email, phone calls and messaging apps. Mindful managers don’t let all the constant distractions interfere with their ability to focus on what really matters.
Being a more mindful manager requires good prioritisation and task management skills. For example, you could identify the 4 most important things that you need to do today. Focus on these tasks and move on to the less important things only once you have completed your key tasks for the day.
In addition to focusing on key tasks, a mindful manager will block out some time to think each day. This might be as little as 15 minutes but it will allow you to step back from the day to day work and focus on the bigger picture. In addition to thinking time, block out some people management time. Use this time to connect with the members of your team, ask questions and allow them time to ask you questions.
In order to make the most of your people management time, avoid distractions including phone calls or emails. Your team members will appreciate you taking the time to really listen to them and they will feel more valued as a result.
Here are Mullen Stoker, we help business owners to not just manage their accounting and tax affairs, we go further to understand their needs as a business owner and provide support, guidance and advice to help them achieve their goals. If you would like to work with a trusted advisor, please get in touch.