Conclude 2023 with Mindful Leadership

Release time：2024-01-04    

As 2023 drew to a close, the EMF program hosted a transformative workshop titled "Search Inside Yourself." on Huangpu campus on December, 30th 2023. This workshop marked the initiation of the leadership program set to unfold throughout the 2023-2024 academic year. Conducted on the final weekend of the year, the session aimed to provide students with an opportunity to pause, reflect on the past, and strategically plan for the upcoming year.

Commencing with an ice-breaker activity focusing on mindful listening, participants were introduced to the quote by “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response."

Inspired by the "Search Inside Yourself" (SIY), originally developed at Google to optimize productivity, creativity and happiness, the workshop highlighted the significance of emotional intelligence as a crucial job skill. In this volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world we navigate, we need to become more attuned to our inner state and what is happening around us. According to a Harvard study, 47% of the time is spent in mind wandering and 70% of leaders regularly report not being attentive during meetings.

So, what can we do about it? Considering the impact of artificial intelligence and the increasing challenges of staying focused, during the workshop, participants collectively agreed on essential classroom agreements, emphasizing a co-created experience, a culture of sharing, and the paramount importance of self-care. The workshop officially commenced, delving into the "why" behind emotional intelligence, explaining the benefits mindfulness offers, and providing insights into the "how" of integrating mindfulness into daily practices, including leadership, explaining mindfulness is a broader, all-encompassing awareness of the present moment, while meditation is a specific practice that can cultivate mindfulness. Both contribute to building emotional resilience, a crucial element for effective leadership, communication, decision-making, and overall well-being.

Attended by EMF students, and students from both Full-Time (FT) and Part-Time (PT) FMBA, and FEMBA alumni, the workshop fostered active engagement and vibrant communication as participants shared their ideas and thoughts.

The shared aspiration is that each participant carries the principles of mindfulness into the new year, leading to a more conscious and mindful 2024. The success of this workshop sets the stage for future leadership events, promising continued growth and development in the realm of mindful leadership. We eagerly anticipate seeing everyone at the next leadership event in 2024!