Leading mindfulness workshops within a corporate setting is quite different from most other business training programs.
Mindfulness—and its benefits—is not something you think about or analyze. You must experience it. The proof, so to speak, is in your personal experience.
People sometimes come to me and talk about research, or that they’ve read books on this subject. That’s all well and good, but it’s not enough. You have to be aware as you experience what compassion or empathy feel like “in the moment”. What does it feel like when you're emotionally triggered or challenged?
To take this one step further, having such experiences requires you to maintain a mindfulness practice. You have to work at it on a consistent basis. I can’t just tell you to be more mindful and (poof!) it happens.
It’s ironic that sometimes business leaders are resistant to mindfulness programs because they don’t see the point in “stepping away” from work. In reality, the opposite is true. Making a commitment to mindfulness equals a willingness to do the hard work to cultivate greater awareness.