5 Ways to Get in the Zone

When thinking of Zen, instead of asking yourself what it is, ask yourself when it is.

Zen is simply now — the practice of complete awareness of the present.

While Zen has immensely beneficial applications in a multitude of personal situations, it can be extremely helpful in the work environment.

We all have the potential to experience Zen at the workplace, and the wonderful benefits it promises.

It’s just a matter of recognizing what Zen is and applying a few of its principles.

Have you ever been so involved in what you are doing at work that you fall into a hyper-focused state, and before you know it, you look up from your work to see the time has zoomed by?

Some people call it “being in the zone.” Others call it flow. Either way, it’s when we are completely engaged in what we’re doing — staying Zen while working.

Here are five ways to apply the principles of Zen at work:

1. Organize Your Desk and Work Area

Clutter is nothing more than postponed decisions.”
— Barbara Hemphill

Although some people claim to work better in a cluttered area, most find it distracting, since they have to continually push things aside to find what they need. If you are finding that there is no room on your desk, take a few minutes to clean your work area before sitting.

Spending just a few moments getting organized can help eliminate mental stress, since a messy work area definitely contributes to it.

2. Learn to Take Control of Demands

Life is not what it’s supposed to be. It’s what it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.”
— Virginia Satir

When the demands of our work make us feel pressured, our brain begins to think that we are unable to cope with them. Feeling stressed and overwhelmed is simply not having control over our everyday demands.

Your brain gives off a fight-or-flight response when you start feeling as if you cannot cope. The more you stress, the more your brain misinterprets the feeling and tries to fight it.

The good news is we can change this by first figuring out the signal thoughts that put us into “can’t cope” mode. These signal thoughts may include things like:

• Feeling as though we have to do everything immediately
• Having too much on our plate
• Believing we aren’t able to get everything done

To change your brain into believing you can cope, you have to change your mental attitude. For instance, instead of panicking over the 35 phone calls you have return, tell yourself this:

I will return these calls. There is no need to activate my body’s emergency system.

To do this, you have to ask yourself a couple things: First, does it really have to be done this second? Secondly, what will happen if you put it off?

3. Don’t Let Distractions Take Over

By prevailing over all obstacles and distractions, one may unfailingly arrive at his chosen goal or destination.”
— Christopher Columbus

Staying Zen while working will not just happen all on its own. You have to focus mentally to get into this state, and eliminate all distractions that will keep you from finishing the job.

Since we all know that busy work can allow distractions to overtake these more mundane tasks, schedule a specific time for doing these types of activities. Keep your distraction plate clear while at work and save the busy tasks for another time.

Better yet, schedule your Zen time instead and stick to it.

4. Slow Down

Progress, of the best kind, is comparatively slow. Great results cannot be achieved at once, and we must be satisfied to advance in life as we walk, step by step.”
— Samuel Smiles

By slowing down and doing less, you can get more done. In fact, according to Dr. Stephen McKenzie, cognitive psychologist, most of us waste our workday by answering emails, sending status updates or tweets, and even eating our lunch mindlessly while in front of a screen.

He goes on to say that in order to be mindful you have to focus on one thing at a time instead of trying to multitask.

5. Question Why You Do Things

Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions Why am I doing it? What the results might be? and Will I be successful? Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead.”
— Chanakya

When you’re stressed at work, it’s more difficult to focus. It can lead to reacting to situations, instead of thinking them through and logically coming to a decision.

Instead, how about challenging your beliefs so you can understand other viewpoints? For instance, why not start your day off being rational instead of letting your emotions dictate your actions?

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Aside from the great feeling you will get by being Zen, your overall work day will be more pleasant as well. You’ll notice that you’ll start to get tasks done and more frequently, rather than losing focus.

Being Zen can be completely rewarding and satisfying. It’s important you realize this, appreciate it and practice it daily.

(Photo by Foundry / CC BY)

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Office Bullying Guide: 5 Tips for Managers

It’s scary but true.

A recent report by a law firm has revealed one-third of employees have been bullied in the workplace.

The repercussions are huge.

While a third of those affected say they did nothing for fear of losing their job or hurting their career prospects, a large number of victims are remonstrating in ways that have financial impact on the business.

Either by taking paid leave due to stress; resigning and, effectively, walking away from the career you’ve both invested in; or in extreme cases, beginning legal proceedings in which you, the business owner, are held accountable.

Therefore, bullying strikes a moral and financial blow. Which means it is your responsibility as a small business owner to be vigilant. What should you do?

1. Look at Yourself

Firstly know what bullying is, as you might be guilty of it. Workplace bullying is defined as the repetitive, prolonged abuse of power, resulting in humiliation, offense, intimidation and distress. It can take the form of:

• Rudeness
• Bitchy or gossipy behavior
• Shouting
• Finger pointing
• Swearing

It can be directed peer-to-peer, upwards from workers to managers, or downwards from directors to workers.

If you are a business owner who likes a joke or a bit of friendly ribbing, it might be worth taking a step back. Is your banter really harmless? Or could it be seen as an unacceptable way to behave?

2. Have a Policy in Place

We all want our companies to be nice places to work — to be environments where people prosper because you nurture their talents. So ensure staff feel supported by developing an anti-bullying policy.

Put together a guide that provides workers with a to-do list if they find themselves the target of a bully. The guide should list helpful tips, for example, suggesting they keep a diary of incidences before escalating the issue.

It should also name a person in the company they should approach as a mediator if they can’t confront the bully themselves. You should ensure this policy is visible and everyone knows it exists.

Insert it in the staff handbook, if you have one. Pin it to the kitchen noticeboard. Share it on the intranet. Just ensure your support is visible.

3. Be Approachable

If bullying is taking place, you need to ensure the victim feels they can talk to you. As the boss, you can make the buck stop, which is very important when the victim can’t see a resolution in sight.

Listen to what they say. Let them do the talking, which I know is not that easy when you’re naturally a problem solver.

Resist any urge to dismiss their claims, and be careful not to make any rash decisions. You need to be empathetic but you also need to know the full story. Which brings me to my fourth point …

4. Know the Facts

Bullying is a type of emotional abuse, and the forms it takes can be very subjective. For example, a daily swear-y tirade from your partner might be funny to you, but hugely intimidating to Sarah in Accounts.

It’s for this very reason you need to understand that there are two sides to every story. Is the bully really a bully? Is what’s being reported fair?

Ask the victim for examples of the bullying, perhaps in the form of a diary. Be kind and gentle when you ask them because, if their claim is genuine but they haven’t kept a diary, you’re basically forcing them to cope with continued harassment in their quest to obtain “evidence.” But you do need this information to deal with the matter fairly.

On the other hand, educate yourself on what doesn’t constitute bullying. For example, differences of opinion during a stressful period at work can leave staff feeling upset, but this shouldn’t be confused with bullying.

Similarly, you and your managers have a right to exercise authority, whether it’s to manage performance, deal with inappropriate behavior or just to set necessary deadlines. This is not tyranny though, just effective management. Finally, one incidence of unreasonable behavior is an isolated act, not bullying. (Though I would hasten to add, it should be addressed there and then, to avoid it escalating.)

5. Know What to Do Next

If a case of bullying exists in your office, call in some help. Either from your HR manager, your lawyer or someone you know who has personnel or legal know-how.

This situation is a potential minefield, and it needs to be handled very carefully. You want to be able to resolve it and retain the staff members involved, at the same time as ensuring little disruption to the business.

To achieve a successful resolution, you will need an expert’s helps to navigate what is likely be a lengthy process with the potential to explode, if not handled correctly.

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Office bullying isn’t something that will disappear on its own. You must address these issues head-on in order to ensure a safe, happy, and therefore productive, workplace.

(Photo by PDPics / CC BY)