Mindfulness-Based Strategic Awareness Training A Complete Program for Leaders and Individuals

• Sets out a complete program in Mindfulness-based Strategic Awareness Training (MBSAT), a new form of strengths-based business mindfulness training which enhances participants? ability to perceive opportunities, adapt and grow
• Draws on research from neuroscience, positive psychology, behavioural finance  and management to show how leaders, managers and individuals can build and maintain more resonant relationships and adapt to constant change
• Includes real-life vignettes, specific instructions and a wealth of resources designed to guide experiential learning including background information, exercises, guidelines, hand-outs, graphics, and guided audio meditations
• Mindfulness training is increasingly used in organizational contexts ? the author is a pioneer in designing and delivering training that applies mindfulness and positive psychology to the strategic challenges of management and business

Reviews by Experts

This book is important for all who seek to lead organizations, showing how mindfulness can be combined with the findings from positive psychology for the benefit of all. The book is not just good theory. It also provides a step-by-step practical program to cultivate a balance between motivation for outcomes on the one hand, and compassion toward self and others on the other. Here are skills that can be learned; skills that can truly inspire and sustain wise leadership. ?Mark Williams, Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Oxford, was also the Founding Director of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre. Now Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Psychiatry of Oxford University. Author of "Mindfulness: An Eight week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World", Co-author with Zindel V. Segal and John Teasdale of "Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression".

In today's disruptive times, it is happy and loyal customers that count. This rich and practical book provides an exceptionally smart learning tool to help consumers make mindful decisions that lead to happiness.  And for any leader and manager it is a key reading for making wise business and marketing decisions that create value.?Bernd Schmitt, Ph.D., Professor, Columbia Business School, New York. Author of "Experiential Marketing: How to Get Consumers to Sense, Fell, Think and Act, Relate to your Company and Brands" and "Happy Customers Everywhere: How Your Business Can Profit from the Insights of Positive Psychology."

Juan Humberto Young is the first to integrate positive psychology and mindfulness with a results-oriented focus on business strategy. In today's ever-changing organizations, leaders need clarity and flexibility to adapt and succeed. Built on leading-edge science, this book offers a step-by-step program that will light your path not only to greater strategic awareness but also to greater well-being.?Barbara L. Fredrickson, Ph.D., Kenan, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Author of the two bestsellers "Positivity: Top-Notch Research Reveals the Upward Spiral That Will Change Your Life" and "Love 2.0: Finding Happiness and Health in Moments of Connection".

Juan Humberto Young integrates mindfulness practices, positive psychology, and extensive business experience to design a practical training program that improves personal and professional decision-making. This book offers tools to make decisions that increase subjective well-being because the sources of much unhappiness are poor decisions. For business leaders, lawyers, negotiators, and everyone who wants to improve their quality of life, this book presents a path to achieve the capacity of strategic awareness, consisting of mental lucidity, emotional clarity, and bodily awareness, which results in skillful decision-making. This book provides readers an ideal way to find happiness, personal balance, and professional success.?Peter H. Huang, J.D. Ph.D., Professor and DeMuth Chair of Business Law, University of Colorado Law School. Author of numerous articles integrating Positive Psychology, Mindfulness and Law.

Boxes, Tables and Figures xii

About the Author xv

Preface xvi

About the Companion Website xx

Part 1 Foundations for Mindful, Positive Leadership and a Constructive Way of Life 1

1 The Quest for a Model of Mindful, Positive Leadership and a Constructive Way of Life 3

1.1 Groundwork for Models of Leading and Living 3

1.2 In Pursuit of Answers to Intriguing Questions 5

1.3 Two Discoveries and their Importance for Good Leadership and Living 6

1.4 From Groundwork to a Model for Mindful, Positive Leadership and a Constructive Way of Life 14

2 What is Positive Psychology? 15

2.1 Birth of a New Discipline 15

2.2 Positive Emotions: The Cornerstone of Positive Psychology 17

2.3 Engagement and Flow 21

2.4 Relationships: The “R” in PERMA 24

2.5 Meaning in Life 25

2.6 Positive Accomplishment: Fifth and Last Element of PERMA 26

2.7 Hindrances to Subjective Well‐being 27

2.8 Positive Psychology Interventions (PPIs): The Instruments for Increasing Happiness 30

2.9 Summarizing Remarks and Outlook 32

3 What is Mindfulness? 33

3.1 Rediscovering Personal Practice 33

3.2 Defining Mindfulness 34

3.3 Some Open Issues of Mindfulness 37

3.4 Operating Mechanisms of Mindfulness 38

3.5 Benefits from Mindfulness Practice 40

3.6 Mindfulness‐based Interventions (MBIs) 44

4 Strategic Awareness: The Key to Well‐Being 48

4.1 The Importance of Strategy 48

4.2 The Future—Not the Past, Not even the Present—As Key to Well‐Being 51

4.3 Strategic Awareness 54

Part 2 Mindfulness‐Based Strategic Awareness Training (MBSAT) 65

5 MBSAT: The Program 67

5.1 Its Origin and Goals 67

5.2 MBSAT: A Decision‐Making Approach 68

5.3 MBSAT Principles 71

5.4 MBSAT Mindfulness Components 79

5.5 The Locus of MBSAT Practices—Minding BETA 80

6 MBSAT: The Program Design 82

6.1 Defining Needs: Understanding Afflictions in the Workplace and in Life 82

6.2 The Format of MBSAT 86

6.3 The Content of MBSAT: An Overview 87

6.4 Expected Benefits from MBSAT 90

6.5 A Finance View of MBSAT Benefits 92

6.6 The Characteristics of Participants and Related Risks 95

6.7 Getting Started: Group Composition and Presession Interviews 98

6.8 Teaching MBSAT 100

6.9 The Importance of Inquiry in Sessions 102

6.10 Homework Assignments 106

6.11 Annex to Chapter 6: MBSAT Precourse Interview Template 108

7 Session 1: Robotic Living—Automatic Pilot 111

7.1 Introduction 111

7.2 Session Organization, Coverage, and Sequence 113

7.3 Exercises and Practices of Session 1 114

8 Session 2: Living Above the Neck 122

8.1 Introduction 122

8.2 Session Organization, Coverage, and Sequence 125

8.3 Exercises and Practices of Session 2 126

9 Session 3: Recollecting Our Mind 133

9.1 Introduction 133

9.2 Session Organization, Coverage, and Sequence 138

9.3 Exercises and Practices of Session 3 139

9.4 Annex to Chapter 9: Body Scan: Recognizing Emotions and Sensations in the Body 145

10 Session 4: The Construction of Experience—Like and Dislike (Our Worried and Anxious Mind) 148

10.1 Introduction 148

10.2 Session Organization, Coverage, and Sequence 151

10.3 Exercises and Practices of Session 4 151

11 Session 5: Strategic Awareness I—Mindful Real Options (MROs) 159

11.1 Introduction 159

11.2 Session Organization, Coverage, and Sequence 167

11.3 Exercises and Practices of Session 5 168

12 Session 6: Strategic Awareness II—From POMO (Powerful Money) to MIMO (Mindful Money) 172

12.1 Introduction 172

12.2 Session Organization, Coverage, and Sequence 181

12.3 Exercises and Practices of Session 6 181

13 Session 7: Strategic Awareness III—Friendliness: Opening the Heart 189

13.1 Introduction 189

13.2 Session Organization, Coverage, and Sequence 200

13.3 Exercises and Practices of Session 7 201

14 Session 8: Minding Your BETA 213

14.1 Introduction 213

14.2 Session Organization, Coverage, and Sequence 214

14.3 Exercises and Practices of Session 8 215

Notes and Handouts

Session 1

Note 1: The Raisin Exercise 230

Note 2: The Body Scan 232

Handout 1 of Session 1: Foundations 235

Handout 2 of Session 1: Building the Formal Mindfulness Practice Habit 235

Handout 3 of Session 1: Home Practice for the Week Following Session 1 237

Handout 4 of Session 1: Optional Reading 237

Handout 5 of Session 1: Home Practice Record Form 238

Session 2

Note 3: The BETA Exercise 239

Note 4: Three Good Things (TGT) Exercise 241

Note 5: Mindfulness of the Breath Practice 242

Handout 1 of Session 2: Content of Home Practice and Practical Considerations 244

Handout 2 of Session 2: Home Practice for the Week Following Session 2 245

Handout 3 of Session 2: Optional Material 246

Session 3

Note 6: Breath and Body Sitting Mediation 247

Note 7: 3‐Minutes Breathing Space—3MBS 249

Note 8: Mindful Stretching and Mindful Salsa 252

Note 9: Positive BETA Reframing Exercise 258

Handout 1 of Session 3: Positive BETA Reframing Part 1 and Part 2 260

Handout 2 of Session 3: Home Practice for the Week Following Session 3 261

Session 4

Note 10: Sitting Meditation on Breath, Body, Sounds, Thoughts, and Open Awareness 262

Note 11: Exercise to Define the Territory of Worry and Anxiety (TWA) 264

Note 12: 3‐Minutes Breathing Space on Strengths—3MBSS 267

Note 13: Mindful Walking 269

Handout 1 of Session 4: Some of the Ways that Worry Can Affect You 270

Handout 2 of Session 4: The Self‐Reinforcing Dynamics of Worry and Anxiety 271

Handout 3 of Session 4: Home Practice for the Week Following Session 4 271

Session 5

Note 14: Irimi Meditation: Awareness of Breath and Body Introducing a Difficulty 274

Note 15: 3‐Minutes Breathing Space on Worry (3MBS‐Worry) 277

Note 16: Mindful Positive Self (MPS) Portrait: The Launch 278

Handout 1 of Session 5: Irimi Meditation on Difficulty 279

Handout 2 of Session 5: The First Steps of Mindful Positive Self (MPS) Portrait 280

Handout 3 of Session 5: Home Practice for the Week following Session 5 282

Handout 4 of Session 5: “Guest House” by Rumi 284

Session 6

Note 17: POMO Meditation 285

Note 18: Exercise on Money and Opportunity Costs (MOC) 288

Note 19: 3‐Minutes Breathing Space on Money Worry (3MBS‐Money Worry) 290

Note 20: Easterlin Paradox and Kahneman–Deaton Happiness Benchmark: Two Mini-Lectures (Optional) 292

Note 21: Mindful Positive Self (MPS): Second Take 299

Handout 1 of Session 6: POMO Meditation 301

Handout 2 of Session 6: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Happiness 302

Handout 3 of Session 6: High Incomes Improves Evaluation of Life but not Emotional Well‐Being 303

Handout 4 of Session 6: 3‐Minutes Breathing Space on Money Worry (3MBS‐Money Worry) 304

Handout 5 of Session 6: Mindful Positive Self (MPS): Second Take 304

Handout 6 of Session 6: Example of a Master Student’s Mindful, Positive Self‐Portrait (MPS) 306

Session 7

Note 22: Meditation on Friendliness 312

Note 23: Active Constructive Responding: A Positive Communication Approach 317

Note 24: Albert Einstein: Is the Universe Friendly? 318

Note 25: Strengths, Opportunities, and Positive Action—SOPA Part I 318

Note 26: 3‐Minutes Breathing Space on Friendliness (3MBS‐Friendliness) 321

Note 27: How to Acquire Talented People 323

Handout 1 of Session 7: Active Constructive Responding: Connecting a Friendly Heart with a Friendly Tongue 323

Handout 2 of Session 7: Albert Einstein: Is the Universe Friendly? 324

Handout 3 of Session 7: How to Acquire Talented People: A Sixteenth‐Century Samurai Tale 324

Handout 4 of Session 7: Strengths, Opportunities, and Positive Action: SOPA Part I 325

Handout 5 of Session 7: Strengths, Opportunities, and Positive Actions: SOPA Part I 326

Handout 6: Strengths, Opportunities, and Positive Actions: SOPA Part I 327

Handout 7: Strengths, Opportunities, and Positive Actions: SOPA Part I 328

Handout 8 of Session 7: Home Practice for the Week Following Session 7 329

Session 8

Handout 1 of Session 8: Strengths, Opportunities, and Positive Actions: SOPA Part II 332

Handout 2 of Session 8: Review of the 8‐week MBSAT Program 337

Handout 3: The Living Zone of the Mindful, Positive Individual 339

Handout 4 of Session 8: A Tale of Equanimity and Open Mindset 341

Handout 5 of Session 8: Course Evaluation 342

Handout 6 of Session 8: The Overall Goal of MBSAT: From VUCA to WECO 343

Final Words and Acknowledgments 344

References 346

Further Reading 354

Index 369

Juan Humberto Young is Professor of Positive Leadership, Strategy, and Finance at IE University and Business School, Madrid. He is a recognized pioneer in designing and delivering services that apply mindfulness and positive psychology to management, and has several decades of experience in consulting and management including board and senior level management positions with UBS, KPMG, and a Swiss electro-engineering fi rm. His academic credentials include a doctorate in Management from Case Western Reserve University, a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy from Oxford University and Masters degrees in Management including an MBA from the University of Chicago and Harvard. He is currently the owner of a positive strategy consultancy company and academic director of the Executive Master in Positive Leadership and Strategy at IE University, Madrid.