Mindfulness for Group Facilitation: An Example of Eastern Philosophy in Western Organizations
Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: In this paper, we argue that mindfulness techniques can be used for enhancing the outcome of group performance. The word mindfulness has different connotations in the academic literature. Broadly speaking there is ‘mindfulness without meditation’ or ‘Western’ mindfulness which involves active thinking and ‘Eastern’ mindfulness which refers to an open, accepting state of mind, as intended with Buddhist-inspired techniques such as meditation. In this paper, we are interested in the latter type of mindfulness and demonstrate how Eastern mindfulness techniques can be used as a tool for facilitation. A brief introduction to the physiology and philosophy of Eastern mindfulness constitutes the basis for the arguments of the effect of mindfulness techniques. The use of mindfulness techniques for group facilitation is novel as it changes the focus from individuals’ mindfulness practice to that of the collective group, and has a subsequent effect on participant’s attention, levels of energy, and experience of the group atmosphere. We discuss some of the problems encountered when mindfulness techniques are used in organizations and provide recommendations for facilitators wanting to employ mindfulness techniques.
Authors: Hanne Kirstine Adriansen, Simon Krohn
Institution: Aarhus University
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2185504520