Mindfulness stands for attentive consciousness. Sometimes one also comes across terms like concentration or just simply attention.
Training in attentive consciousness runs as a thread through both Mindful Leadership Programmes.

There is currently a high level of interest in Mindfulness training. This is very understandable, given that we live in a very dynamic and hectic environment in which the one fundamental change piles on top of a following shift in societal or organizational circumstances. The only stable factor in all this is oneself. Being able to work with Conscious Attentiveness is an extremely powerful and reliable instrument for stimulating personal well-being, peace and stability.

Training in attentive consciousness stems from the Buddhist tradition, zazen and vipassana. But one also finds essential elements of Mindfulness training in the Advaita Vedanta, the non-dual teachings and the Yoga tradition (Patanjali). The objective (and the result) of Mindfulness as it was introduced from 1970 by Jon Kabat-Zinn is above all regaining health and getting a firmer grip on the situation whereby a higher degree of well-being can be achieved. In the original traditions of Bhudism targets are more concentrated on achieving enlightenment: being awakened (Buddha), radical release, being empty and fully conscious are the terms used to indicate what is being sought.

Throughout both programmes a variety of methods are used. A fixed part of every module is learning to meditate. By actually practicing these methods (also at home!) qualities are stimulated such as:

• concentration and learning,
• physical relaxation,
• peaceful thinking,
• alertness, clarity of spirit,
• self-reflection and self-knowledge,
• imagination and creativity,
• living in harmony with yourself and the world around you.

Another fixed element consists of Mindfulness dialogues about our deepest levels of knowledge. In these dialogues we speak from heart to heart about our daily lives, the integration of meditation and the leading themes of the programme and the programme modules.

All in all two dimensions can be distinguished in both programmes:

1. The dimension of awareness.
   
2. The dimension of reflecting and working on leadership experiences related to each module’s theme.
   
   The design of both programmes and the application of balanced methods ensure that different facets of both dimensions are fruitfully and connected and worked out.
   
   
   
   
   
   

Mindfulness