I asked the focus group of experts how I could best design an intervention that supported entrepreneurs to see the potential value of mindfulness to both themselves and their organisation. This is what they said.
Use Case Studies
Entrepreneur Carl suggested the use of case-studies. “ Use case studies and testimonies to convince them of the benefits followed by practical advice. You could also show them evidence of organisations and individuals who have implemented some mindfulness-based interventions and what it has done for them, and the people they work with. I think purposeful case studies would be really helpful.”
Separate Mindfulness From The Prosocial Agenda
Carl adds that mindfulness should be separated from any prosocial agenda. “ The idea that they may become more prosocial, they might get frightened by that. A lot of them are driven by money, they are thinking about the commercial success of their company, then introduce the social aspect later on.”
Use Examples That Relate To Entrepreneurship
Carl also thinks that the use of examples of how mindfulness benefits entrepreneurs would be helpful. “ I think particularly through the lens of entrepreneurship and perhaps how to manage risk, that is a big consideration for entrepreneurs as they tend to be risk takers. It is knowing when to cap that instead of being so risky that you have lost everything you worked for. So I think try to show them the difference mindfulness can make rather than just tell them and put forward the case that mindfulness can help them manage risk and lead to better decision making. I think that would speak the language of entrepreneurs.”
Include Opportunities For Experiential Learning
Entrepreneur in training Ali said there should be a chance to do the intervention in their own way and in their own time. “ If it is too regimented, people lose sight of it. I would say that you could introduce it, that they could do it in their own time in a way that is casual, so routine but not regimented.”
Link It To The Mental Health And Wellbeing Agenda
Alex from a business support organisation feels that it might be helpful to link the intervention to the mental health and wellbeing agenda. “ There’s a need to have Mental Health First Aid to identify where mindfulness would work, where people might need more help, and building that into annual appraisals and one to ones with your manager.”
Entrepreneur Carl agrees that it should be linked to wellbeing. “ Concerns about people’s health and well-being in organisations, whether sole trader, entrepreneur, or working in large organisations it is huge and it is going to for huge for some time. There is going to be a massive increase in debilitating conditions through a lack of emotional well-being. Employers are very aware of this and people are not really sure how to deal with it. Mental health services are really concerned about how to cope with increased demands. Mindfulness factors into that, again at this moment in time there is a lot more focus and might then be some coordinated approaches that structures this into organisations.
Carl adds that entrepreneur wellbeing needs to be a strong focus “ How can we support sole traders and entrepreneurs not to beat themselves up all the time, thinking they have got to be working at 150%? Need to take time to consider that. It is a very hot topic and will be for some time.”
Encourage Practice
Business adviser Sharon feels mindfulness practice should be encouraged. “ It is a lot harder to stick with something if you only do it once and then leave it. So reminding them, making it something they have to do, to stick with it, not formal but also you can opt out for a period of time so that they can start seeing the benefits. I think with mindfulness when you start doing it and it is something you have done for a while, then it something you naturally start to do yourself and to think about it in terms of what would make me happy, what do I actually need to do now, and things like that.”
Develop Self-Awareness In Entrepreneurs
Commercial trainer Graham says there should be a focus on developing entrepreneurs’ self-awareness. “ Humans- we think, feel, behave, act, react to people, places and things – these dictate success. Start with self, how I feel and behave.”
Explore Emotions
Graham adds that developing emotional awareness and intelligence is also important. “ We don’t talk about feelings enough. How do we then provoke social consciousness? How do we encourage people to ask the questions, how do I feel about this experience, can I try something different?