The Zen of Project Management

When it comes to project management, mindfulness is a powerful tool that, when used correctly, can be an ally when it comes to managing and reducing stress. Techniques like meditation and deep breathing, when used as part of any good routine can help to provide your project team with appropriate ways in which they can navigate the complexities encountered in any difficult project. Embracing mindfulness is not simply a resolution but could be considered a commitment to more holistic success.

In this article, we will explore how mindfulness is about more than just stress reduction, and when done properly can assist with better decision-making. When you integrate mindfulness practices into your routines as a project manager, you can improve your everyday decision-making. The mindful approach is not just some new trend, it is a way in which you can invest in your team to ensure a more balanced and successful approach to your projects.

We explore how mindfulness transcends stress reduction. By integrating mindful practices, project managers can elevate everyday decision-making, develop greater focus, clarity and resilience.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a basic human ability to be present and fully aware of what you are doing and where you are, and not being too reactive or overwhelmed by the things that are going on around you. It is a quality that everyone processes but it can often be something that you need to learn to access. Mindfulness is about maintaining an awareness of thoughts on a moment-by-moment basis through things like the surrounding environment, feelings and a gentle, nurturing approach.

When it comes to project management, both on an individual level and on an organisational level there are a number of benefits that it is well worth exploring. It can help to make a calmer environment in which all the members of your team can co-exist and work together. It can help to provide room for team members to take a step back when everyone is getting fraught as a result of impending deadlines or unexpected issues that need solving quickly. In short, mindfulness techniques are part of the soft skills vital for project managers and offer a valuable way in which stressful situations can be de-escalated.

When project team members are stressed, it can be difficult for them to give their full attention to the project, mistakes are made, tempers fray, and the atmosphere can be difficult to work in. It isn’t productive and people are not able to make their best decisions.

How Can You Integrate Mindfulness Into The Workplace?

For many people who practise some form of mindfulness, including in the workplace, an excellent place to start is with any meditative process. Meditation for managers often simply involves deep breathing which can help to relax the mind and body. Then you can focus on just one thing, just the one, and it should be simple, for example, a line in front of you or even an object. Focusing is just one part of the process and really it is more about learning the techniques that can help you when faced with stressful situations. The mind is often drawn to other things during a period of mindfulness, and this is normal. It can often be the point where whatever it was that was causing the stress can come into focus and the solution you were looking for becomes more evident.

Setting aside time in your daily routines, meetings, and even project management processes can be surprisingly simple. Once you have done it a few times, it will seem less awkward and more beneficial.

Try starting your daily scrum with a small period of mindful thinking. This will clear the air and help people clear their heads before the day really gets going and the stress begins.

Encourage your team members to take time for breaks when they can practise mindfulness techniques if their workload is getting on top of them, spending a short time regrouping can actually help to boost productivity in the long run.

The Benefits Of Mindfulness To Project Management

There is no doubt that project management can sometimes be an incredibly stressful environment, to which adding a few simple well-being solutions can offer real benefits. Amongst the benefits that you will find in your project team when you add mindfulness are:

• Improved focus on work
• Reduced stress levels among team members
• Enhanced creativity, which can result in a better ability to find solutions to unexpected issues on the project
• Promotion of better communication: mindfulness can help the members of your team to interact better with each other and, therefore communicate more effectively
• Improved collaboration: team members who communicate more are also more likely to collaborate in a better way, and this means good results for your project

All of these benefits point towards a clear end result, and that is better quality of work being produced within the project and a greater chance of success for the final outcome whilst also being on budget and completed within the appropriate timeframe. In fact, in many aspects of business, mindfulness and other soft skills are the key skills of a good leader. After all, no matter how well-qualified and experienced your team are, if stress overwhelms them then the end result will be less than optimal and the personal experiences of the team will be negative. That means mindfulness and soft skills, far from being “nice-to-haves”, actually drive better business outcomes.

How Can You Create Calmer, More Focused Minds?

There are a number of ways in which you can incorporate mindfulness, and it isn’t all about meditating or even simple breathing exercises.

Start by simply encouraging people to take their breaks when allowed, encourage them to step away from their desks, spend time in breakout areas and relax with colleagues or even get outside and take a brisk walk in the fresh air. Soon you’ll be seeing how reducing stress within the workplace pays dividends.