We’ve talked a lot about creating work environments that inspire creativity, connection, healthy communication, and effective problem-solving. These are advanced skills that require a significant level of emotional capacity—a quality often undervalued in professional settings.
Even small investments in emotional awareness yield meaningful results. For instance, a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that judges were more likely to deliver lenient sentences after taking breaks and eating. Emotional balance impacts decision-making, especially with high-pressure, quick-turnaround projects at work.
While strong leaders have their own centering processes and practices, bringing them into meetings and boardrooms is a worthy challenge. You’ll have to go up against some of the bias that it’s frou-frou, out-of-touch new-age stuff of the ilk Goop peddles. But substantial research supports their effectiveness; a study in The Journal of Occupational Health Psychology found that mindfulness practices increased work engagement by 36%. These practices, if thoughtfully implemented, are practical and impactful.
What is grounding? It is any practice that helps us settle into our bodies—taking a moment to observe what sensations are arising inside us without trying to change, categorize, or even understand it. Of course, when the practice ends, we can take action (like realizing during meditation how hungry you are and grabbing a snack later). But for that moment, we simply acknowledge sensations as they arise without judgment, decision-making, or to-do lists. Brain can quiet, your body can be.
Anyone who’s tried it knows, even a couple minutes of mindfulness can be hard work at first—but groundings don’t have to involve sound bowls or incense at work. They can be as simple as incorporating sensation into an icebreaker or check-in question. For example, taking three minutes to mindfully eat a wedge of orange or a single grape together. Or asking your team members to reimagine their favorite childhood scent. Even now, I can remember old teammates’ vivid answers: shredded cedar bark from recess adventures, homecooked dolma, fresh pomegranate, and even a new puppy’s toes (definitely the hardest one to forget).
As your team grows more comfortable, you can branch out into more advanced mindfulness techniques and use free scripts online with rotating facilitators. One important note, especially for humanitarian aid and nonprofit workers, is that being in our bodies can be especially difficult when experiencing direct or vicarious trauma. Luckily, there are plenty of good resources out there to help and experts who can guide you to the best practices for your team.
Making your work just that much more rooted and connected might make the difference that deepens a client relationship or innovates solutions to frustrating stuck points. Worst case? It just makes life a little better for you and everyone you lead.