Mindfulness Training for Organizations

We live and work in a knowledge economy, where success is often predicated on our ability to think clearly and creatively and collaborate with others. At the same time, our lives and workplaces are increasingly full of impediments to focus and accomplishing goals. Overwhelming distractions and expectations for multitasking drive employee anxiety and increase error rates by as much as 50%, with corresponding decreases in productivity. 

New research shows that the brain is a constantly changing organ that responds to mental exercise the same way our muscles respond to physical exercise. Based on our experiences, our brains undergo a continuous remodeling process. Research shows that mindfulness training is one of the best ways to alter the brain for improved attention, clarity, and memory. 

In 2012, The Dow Chemical Company completed a study on mindfulness in the workplace that was published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.  The study revealed that after mindfulness training, there was a six-month sustained improvement in the following key performance measures:

  • 30% reduction in perceived stress.

  • 50% decrease in the number of high-stress episodes.

  • 13% increase in resiliency.

  • 15% increase in work engagement and vigor.

  • 50% decrease in employee burnout.

  • Significant improvement in dietary choices.

Grand Rapids Center for Mindfulness (GRCFM) offers Mindfulness at Work programs rooted in the groundbreaking work of Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the University of Massachusetts Medical School's Center for Mindfulness. Our mindfulness programs are supported by widely published research demonstrating mindfulness's effectiveness in reducing stress and enhancing performance in the workplace and personal life. 

Course Objectives:

  • Introduce the theory and practice of mindfulness

  • Provide experience with core mindfulness practices that include sitting meditation, the body scan, mindful eating, and mindful movement.

  • Cultivate present-moment awareness.

  • Learn skills that can be applied to managing personal and workplace stress.

  • Apply mindfulness in collaborative settings.

GRCFM offers several different options for Mindfulness Training in organizations.

Single Day Trainings

  • Two-hour Introduction to Mindfulness Presentations

  • Half-day Mindfulness Training - This workshop introduces participants to the theory and research on mindfulness and mindfulness-based interventions. It also provides training in mindfulness practices to manage stress and enhance well-being in all areas of life. 

  • Full-day Mindfulness Training: Participants learn about the history and research on mindfulness-based interventions in the workplace and how they are being used to manage stress and sustain a productive work environment. This workshop combines philosophy and practice in using mindfulness skills in both individual and collaborative settings. 

Multi-Week Programs

  • Four-week Mindfulness Program - Four 2-hour experiential sessions scheduled weekly at your location.

  • Six-week Mindfulness Program - Six 90-minute experiential sessions are scheduled weekly at your location. 

    • Both the Four- and Six-week Mindfulness Programs provide participants with a working knowledge of and basic skills in mindfulness and self-compassion practices. Discussion and application will focus on using mindfulness and self-compassion to improve focus and attention, relieve professional and personal stress, and improve well-being.

  • By meeting regularly over several weeks, participants have the opportunity to solidify their practices and expand their understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of the practice.