Yesterday I was in the multi-tasking zone. In a whirling 60 minutes, I found myself zipping seamlessly back and forth between talking on the phone, answering emails and working on a writing project. My guess is that you've been in this zone as well, completing all tasks, but doing them in an automatic pilot mode that makes the time go by in a bit of a blur.

When you're in "the zone," you are actually being mindful. Not sure what I mean by that? Read more about mindfulness in this issue of Promotional Consultant Today.

Jon Kabat-Zinn, professor of medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, defines mindfulness as "paying attention on purpose, in the present moment and nonjudgementally to the unfolding of experience moment to moment." For years mindfulness has been practiced as a way to reduce stress and in mediation, but there are those who also believe that understanding mindfulness can help leaders in business as well.

Leadership author, coach and consultant Lolly Daskal has created mindfulness programs for Fortune 500 companies. She notes that 89 percent of those who practice mindfulness say they think more clearly and are more productive— two attributes certainly beneficial to any business leader.

In a recent blog post, Daskal detailed a number of benefits she believes leaders can gain from an increased mindfulness at work:

  • Stress reduction. Mindfulness both relieves stress and increases calm— two dynamics that are particularly helpful to get through times of crises in business.

  • Less emotional reactivity. By being mindful in the present, leaders can become more aware of their reactions and can better keep emotions in check.

  • Greater focus. Mindfulness relies on concentration, so those who practice it have a better ability to focus and concentrate at work.

  • Improved memory. Mindful leaders are focused on the present and able to block out extenuating distractions, leaving them to think more clearly and improve recall.

  • New insights. By enhancing self-insight, intuition and fear modulation-all functions associated with the middle prefrontal lobe of the brain— mindfulness can help keep us trusting our intuition and on top of our game.

  • Breakdown of complex problems. When analyzing complex problems, the increased clarity, focus and freedom from distraction by being mindful can help improve results.

Source: Lolly Daskal is the president and CEO of Lead From Within, a global consultancy firm specializing in leadership and entrepreneurial development. Daskal also writes for Inc., Fast Company and Psychology Today.