MEDITATION – THE INVISIBLE ADVANTAGE OF ORGANIZATIONS

When I start talking about meditation in the corporate world, I often encounter polite rejection. Most of the time, this dismissal begins with the same question:“…so now we’ll have to sit cross-legged and chant ‘om’?”

I’m not sure why, but this image is one of the most persistent myths about meditation. And that’s not all — people often follow up with concerns that such spiritual or religious practices might eventually turn the organization into a cult. The final punchline?“…this has nothing to do with business or our daily work.”

Naturally, such an attitude discourages companies from embracing meditation. However, some organizations are gradually beginning to explore it as a tool to gain a competitive edge, improve efficiency, make better decisions, and enhance employee well-being.

Meditation Is Not a Mystical Process

For many, meditation still seems like a complex and unfamiliar mental practice. In reality, it’s not mystical — it’s a simple, natural technique that doesn’t require special effort.

During meditation, while staying fully awake and aware, a person experiences a unique state of calm where the body is deeply relaxed and the mind moves beyond its usual activity. This state is known as transcendental consciousness or pure awareness. It is subjectively experienced as deep peace and fullness. This is the source of thoughts, creative potential, and energy. The transcendental state positively impacts the body’s self-regulation and helps restore the nervous system after stress — a major cause of many health issues.

Meditation is an effective, practical tool for developing awareness, unlocking mental potential, and applying it in daily life.

It can be described as:

• A calm mind;

• A mind present in the current moment;

• A mind free from doubt and expectation;

• A return to our inner source;

• Not action, but the art of inaction — learning to be here and now;

• A training of attention — where focus goes, energy flows;

• Not a philosophy or religion — no special behavior or lifestyle required.

The (In)visible Benefits of Meditation

Thanks to numerous scientific studies confirming the benefits of meditation, this practice is slowly gaining traction not only in our personal lives but also in the corporate environment. Despite early skepticism, more and more people are eager to try meditation at work.

Globally, many companies are creating meditation rooms and encouraging their employees to meditate during working hours. If you’re working intensely for 8+ hours and feel mentally drained, what’s better — your 10th cup of coffee or 20 minutes of calm that truly recharges your mind and body?

After meditating, employees return refreshed and reenergized.

11 Business Benefits of Meditation

Companies like American Express, Bank of America, Citicorp Finance, GE Capital, Hero Honda, Hewlett Packard, HSBC, Motorola, Siemens, Tata, and Sumitomo Heavy Industries report measurable improvements after integrating meditation into their routines — including increased performance and better financial results.

Employees themselves report better well-being, less stress, and greater creativity — all key for business success (as found in research by Stephanie Denning, Forbes, 2018).

Just keep in mind: the benefits of meditation appear over time. If you're expecting results after one or two sessions, you might be disappointed — the same applies to going to the gym. Real change takes consistency.

Here are 11 advantages:

1. A Healthier Environment

Chronic stress can threaten both employee and executive health. Meditation lowers the risk of physical and psychological ailments.

2. Less Stress

Meditation helps control anxiety, anger, and the overwhelm that often comes with daily business challenges.

3. Higher Productivity

By giving your mind time to rest and reset, meditation helps you return to work with fresh insights and increased output.

4. Enhanced Creativity

A relaxed mind sees solutions more creatively and solves problems with greater originality.

5. Improved Emotional Intelligence

Meditation helps employees manage their emotions better and interact more positively with others.

6. Better Focus

Regular practice sharpens concentration, which boosts effectiveness during meetings and complex tasks.

7. Smarter Decision-Making

When calm and focused, decision-making improves — a benefit Steve Jobs credited to meditation.

8. Stronger Connections

Meditation enhances empathy and reduces emotional detachment, strengthening workplace relationships.

9. Heightened Intuition

By tuning into inner awareness, meditation helps individuals access their natural intuitive abilities.

10. More Empathetic Choices

A culture of empathy leads to decisions that benefit the whole organization and its people.

11. It’s Free

Unlike gym memberships or self-development courses, meditation costs nothing — just time and willingness.

Starting to Meditate Isn’t Mission Impossible

The minimum benefit of meditation is relaxation — something we all need. But its true gift lies in mental clarity, inner peace, and creative power.

This article is an invitation to explore. I hope it sparks your curiosity and desire to try meditation for yourself. And starting is simple. Try one of the most basic and effective techniques: breathwork.

Here’s how:

A Beginner’s Breathing Meditation

1. Balance Your Breathing. This is your transition into meditation. Equalize the length of your inhales and exhales (e.g., inhale 4 seconds, exhale 4 seconds). Don’t force it — comfort is key. Repeat until a wave of calm washes over you.

   
   

2. Observe Your Breath. Direct your full attention to breathing: notice the inhale and exhale. No need to control it — just observe. Thoughts will arise: “What am I doing?”, “Did I respond to that email?” — that’s okay. Don’t attach to them. Let them pass and return to the breath.

   
   

Ideal duration: twice a day, 20 minutes. But even 10, 5, or 3 minutes — or a few mindful breaths — is a great start.

Final Thoughts

Be patient. Don’t expect anything. Just being present is already a result.

When we let go of expectations and simply enjoy the moment, that’s when “it” happens — and soon, the real results follow.

I’ve personally practiced Transcendental Meditation for over 10 years. Conscious breathing has become essential, too. And yes — it fits perfectly within a demanding business lifestyle.

When people say “it’s either business or meditation,” I say that’s a myth. In truth, they complement each other beautifully.

The result? Relaxation, wellness, and creative energy that brings new ideas and innovations into the world.

To paraphrase the Buddha: You don’t have to believe a word I say — but try it once.