Mark T. Bertolini, the 58-year-old CEO of Aetna, following a near-death experience, transformed Aetna’s culture that offers free yoga, meditation classes and other wellness initiatives. More than 25% of the company’s 50,000 employees have taken a meditation class. The company has tracked results of employees’ participation.
What did the results show?
- A significant reduction in perceived stress and sleep difficulties,
- health care costs had fallen, and
- productivity gains were sustained.
But, this transformation was led by Bertolini, who firmly believed in the healing power of yoga and meditation. (Source: “A C.E.O.’s Management by Mantra”, 3-1-15 The Sunday New York Times)
Google asked itself: “What if people can use contemplative practices to help them succeed in life and at work?” As a result, in 2007 Google launched a company-wide effort for engineers of a mindfulness-based emotional intelligence curriculum called “Search Inside Yourself.” This effort was led by Chade-Meng Tan, a Google engineer.
Here are a few examples of the results of this effort for their engineers:
- Listen better.
- Able to control tempers.
- Giving quality time to themselves and families.
- More credible with customers because better at calmly overcoming objections during product demonstrations.
- Enhanced creativity.
But here is the most important point in the birthing of this initiative: Google allowed its engineers to use 20% of their time working on projects outside their core jobs. A group used their 20% time to work on what became “Search Inside Yourself.” Once again, there was commitment from top leadership to make this happen. (Source: Search Inside Yourself: The Unexpected Path To Achieving Success, Happiness (And World Peace) by Chade-Meng Tan, 2012)
Luke Kissam, CEO of Albermarle, a multi-billion chemical company, sought out a coach to help him deal with the sense that his life was increasingly overwhelming. “He began building breaks into his days and being fully focused and present during time with his family.”
He sets aside one morning every week for reflection and thinking longer term. He sends “out handwritten notes of appreciation to people inside and outside the company.” Kissam transformed the “rethinking of the organization’s practices around meetings, email, flexible working arrangements, conflict resolution and recognition that are focused on energy renewal, value, focus, and purpose.”
Results?
- Safety record improved significantly because people are more focused,
- people are trusted more to do their jobs,
- managers are showing more appreciation for employees’ efforts, and
- profitability is going up as a byproduct.
Once again, there was commitment from the top leader to make this transformation happen. (Source: “Why You Hate Work” by Tony Schwartz and Christine Porath, The New York Times, 5-30-14)
If organizations are serious about incorporating mindfulness practices into the work environment, leaders must believe in mindfulness, practice mindfulness, and commit time and resources to it. And, it’s not about making money. It’s about creating and maintaining a work environment that enables people to be a success in their work and deepening the value of life as a human being.