One Second Ahead: Enhance Your Performance at Work with Mindfulness

by Gillian Coutts (Author), Jacqueline Carter (Author), Rasmus Hougaard (Author)

New
Illustrated
2015
$30.58

Researchers have found that the accelerated pace of modern office life is taking its toll on productivity, employee engagement, creativity and well-being. Faced with a relentless flood of information and distractions, our brains try to process everything at once increasing our stress, decreasing our effectiveness and negatively impacting our performance. Ironically, we have become too overworked, unfocused, and busy to stop and ask ourselves the most important question: What can we do to break the cycle of being constantly under pressure, always-on, overloaded with information and in environments filled with distractions? Do we need to accept this as the new workplace reality and continue to survive rather than thrive in modern day work environments? Thankfully, the answer is no. In their new book, ONE SECOND AHEAD: Enhance Your Performance at Work with Mindfulness (Palgrave Macmillan; November 2015), Rasmus Hougaard, Jacqueline Carter, and Gillian Coutts demonstrate that it is possible to train the brain to respond differently to today's constant pressures and distraction. All it takes is one second. They propose that we need to learn to work differently so we are more focused, calm and have less clutter in our mind so we can better manage our time and attention. What if we could hit the 'pause' button on our day, step back, and meet challenges with a sense of clarity and purpose? And what if there was a way not just of 'getting things done,' but ensuring that what does get done are the right things to do? Based on a program in corporate mindfulness designed by Hougaard and the partners of The Potential Project, One Second Ahead provides practical tools and techniques as well as real-world examples and lessons from organizations that have implemented mindfulness on a large scale. Thoroughly tested in a diverse range of industries, this program has resulted in measurable increases in productivity, effectiveness, and job satisfaction. With the new mindset proposed in One Second Ahead, readers will be able to put an end to ineffective multitasking, unproductive meetings, poor communication, and other unhealthy workplace behaviors by applying mindfulness to every day work life. All too often, we think that being mindful requires engaging in a special activity like meditation or yoga. Sure, these activities are beneficial and important to train the mind, but there are many simple things we can do to be mindful all day long. One Second Ahead is a handbook for more mindful work that offers: Practical, easy to apply, tools and techniques to enhance performance and effectiveness in day to day work activities such as meetings, emails, communication, planning, creativity and more Real-world stories of how mindfulness changed the workdays of leaders and front line employees Tips for cultivating mental strategies and routines that can reduce clutter, increase focus, and rewire your brain to enhance presence, patience, kindness and other valuable mind states Simple yet detailed step-by-step instructions for a more systematic approach to mindfulness training to enhance focus and awareness Guidelines for a 10-minute-per-day mindfulness program that can reshape your life both at work and at home; A reproducible planning worksheet and further resources in the Appendix. One Second Ahead can transform daily work life by helping individuals and teams realize more of their potential through greater focus and awareness. The tools and techniques in this book can transform individual and organizational performance one mind at a time.

Synopsis

Researchers have found that the accelerated pace of modern office life is taking its toll on productivity, employee engagement, creativity and well-being. Faced with a relentless flood of information and distractions, our brains try to process everything at once increasing our stress, decreasing our effectiveness and negatively impacting our performance. Ironically, we have become too overworked, unfocused, and busy to stop and ask ourselves the most important question: What can we do to break the cycle of being constantly under pressure, always-on, overloaded with information and in environments filled with distractions? Do we need to accept this as the new workplace reality and continue to survive rather than thrive in modern day work environments? Thankfully, the answer is no. In their new book, ONE SECOND AHEAD: Enhance Your Performance at Work with Mindfulness (Palgrave Macmillan; November 2015), Rasmus Hougaard, Jacqueline Carter, and Gillian Coutts demonstrate that it is possible to train the brain to respond differently to today's constant pressures and distraction. All it takes is one second. They propose that we need to learn to work differently so we are more focused, calm and have less clutter in our mind so we can better manage our time and attention. What if we could hit the 'pause' button on our day, step back, and meet challenges with a sense of clarity and purpose? And what if there was a way not just of 'getting things done,' but ensuring that what does get done are the right things to do? Based on a program in corporate mindfulness designed by Hougaard and the partners of The Potential Project, One Second Ahead provides practical tools and techniques as well as real-world examples and lessons from organizations that have implemented mindfulness on a large scale. Thoroughly tested in a diverse range of industries, this program has resulted in measurable increases in productivity, effectiveness, and job satisfaction. With the new mindset proposed in One Second Ahead, readers will be able to put an end to ineffective multitasking, unproductive meetings, poor communication, and other unhealthy workplace behaviors by applying mindfulness to every day work life. All too often, we think that being mindful requires engaging in a special activity like meditation or yoga. Sure, these activities are beneficial and important to train the mind, but there are many simple things we can do to be mindful all day long. One Second Ahead is a handbook for more mindful work that offers: Practical, easy to apply, tools and techniques to enhance performance and effectiveness in day to day work activities such as meetings, emails, communication, planning, creativity and more Real-world stories of how mindfulness changed the workdays of leaders and front line employees Tips for cultivating mental strategies and routines that can reduce clutter, increase focus, and rewire your brain to enhance presence, patience, kindness and other valuable mind states Simple yet detailed step-by-step instructions for a more systematic approach to mindfulness training to enhance focus and awareness Guidelines for a 10-minute-per-day mindfulness program that can reshape your life both at work and at home; A reproducible planning worksheet and further resources in the Appendix. One Second Ahead can transform daily work life by helping individuals and teams realize more of their potential through greater focus and awareness. The tools and techniques in this book can transform individual and organizational performance one mind at a time.

$30.58

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More Information

Format: Illustrated
Pages: 250
Edition: 1st ed. 2015
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Published: 06 Nov 2015
ISBN 10: 1137551909
ISBN 13: 9781137551900

Media Reviews

One Second Ahead provides practical tools and techniques as well as real-world examples and lessons from organizations that have implemented mindfulness on a large scale. ... One Second Ahead is a worthy addition to the armoury of every busy executive and essential reading for anyone striving to enhance their productivity and well-being in today's fast-paced work life. (Credit Control, Vol. 37 (2), 2016)

One Second Ahead is a timely addition to the repertoire of individuals striving to enhance their productivity and well-being in a fast-paced work life through the application of mindfulness training techniques. Manish Chopra, PhD, Partner, McKinsey and Co., and author of The Equanimous Mind

In One Second Ahead, Rasmus Hougaard describes in layman's terms how the brain works and the impacts of stress in an 'always on' culture. The authors provide hope through easy to understand practices, anyone can integrate mindfulness into daily routines and overcome the barriers that get in the way of reaching our full potential. The combination of science, mindfulness practices and business application make this a must read for employees and leaders at all levels in organizations. Meghan Seybold, Senior Manager of Diversity Leadership Initiatives, Royal Bank of Canada

One Second Ahead arrives at a critical time for executives and our modern workforce. Leaders and employees are struggling to keep up with increasing amounts of information and demands on their time and ultimately their attention. Here the author's practical translation of mindfulness techniques to the workplace offers us all the opportunity to bring greater focus and presence to our work life and ultimately deliver higher impact performance. If you are interested in unlocking you and your teams full potential then start with One Second Ahead. Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, the LEGO Group

Imagine taking the power of ancient wisdom, the effectiveness of research-proven practices, and the extensive, in-depth experience of teaching these skills in a wide range of organizational settings and you have the empowering book you hold in your hands. With clarity and eloquence, One Second Ahead reveals how the training of the mind can bring any member of a corporate team to a more productive, rewarding, and innovative way of being in the workplace. Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., Clinical Professor, UCLA School of Medicine, Executive Director, Mindsight Institute, Author, Mindsight, Brainstorm, and The Mindful Brain

One Second Ahead is brilliant in its clarity and simplicity. Finally we have a highly usable guide to applying the practices of mindfulness at work. Michele Milan, Chief Executive Officer, Executive Programs, Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto

Rasmus Hougaard and The Potential Project have cleverly combined two hot topics in today's work life: mindfulness and working more effectively. You can find thousands of useful books on both topics, but Rasmus has gone one step further. Putting together a great variety of work techniques with mindfulness creates an extremely powerful toolset for any professional who not only wants more from him/herself, but is also interested in own self's wellbeing. Jouni Torunen, HR Director, Nokia

One Second Ahead is a major contribution to bringing not only more sanity and mindfulness at the work place but also a more caring and open-minded attitude in all walks of life. Highly recommended. Matthieu Ricard, humanitarian and Buddhist monk, author of Altruism: How Compassion Can Change Your Life and the World.

In One Second Ahead Rasmus Hougaard ingeniously applies time-tested ancient methods of mental training to practical day-to-day circumstances that are regularly encountered in the business world. This book is bound to be of much practical benefit to all those who seek a more satisfying, creative, and fulfilling way of life within their professional and personal relationships. B. Alan Wallace, Ph.D. Author of bestseller The Attention Revolution and President, Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies

Like many other busy professionals we at Herbert Smith Freehills face the same demands of long working hours, increasing commercial complexity, and competing distractions for our attention and for our effort. To be a globally elite law firm, we need to be focused, crystal clear in our thinking and highly effective. This book distils the essence of the Potential Project's mindfulness program. If you put into action what you learn here, particularly the daily practice, then I am sure you will gain a greater sense of who you are, and a sense of calm and perspective that will enable you to be the best person you can be at work and at home. Murray Paterson, Head of Capability Development, Herbert Smith Freehills, Australia

A mindful organization is an organization where our leaders and employees do the right things - not just things. Through the program behind this book, we have gradually become a mindful organization. Former CIO, Carlsberg, Kenneth Egelund Schmidt

Rasmus Hougard, Jacqueline Carter and Gillian Coutts have skillfully woven an elegant set of mindfulness tools and strategies that any professional can implement. This is a fantastic foundation for a more mindful workplace and life. Jeremy Hunter, PhD, Associate Professor of Practice Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management

In our organization we have implemented the program of mindfulness and after completing the program the stress level have decreased significantly and our employees are more focused. But the techniques outlined in One Second Ahead are not just for work situations, they are also highly valuable in all kind of scenario - both professional and private. The book will give you better and more mindful interactions with everyone you meet. Hans Broback, Human Resources Director, Roche

Since undertaking mindfulness training, I have been pleasantly surprised by the positive impact the training has had on my creativity. By choosing to focus on only one task at a time, I engage in more useful conversations with my colleagues and have also found that my enhanced concentration has significantly improved my overall creative output. Nick Foley, President SE Asia Pacific & Japan, Landor

The pace and complexity in today's organizations affects all co-workers and leaders in all aspects. Especially when the boundaries between work and 'life' becomes more and more interlinked. The decision to use CBMT as a tool in order to decrease stress levels in our organization turned out to be a real game changer for our co-workers. I can highly recommend this book because it captures all the benefits with working with CBMT in all kinds of organizations. The tone of voice is fact-driven and combines real examples from organizations backed up with theories and scientific studies. Henrik Scheutz, Function Manager HR Service Centre, IKEA AB

Author Bio

Rasmus Hougaard is an internationally recognized authority on training the mind to be more focused, effective, and clear in an organizational context. Rasmus' background combines research in organizational development with a corporate career and more than 20 years of practicing and teaching mindfulness. He is the Founder and Managing Director of The Potential Project - the global leading provider of corporate mindfulness programs. The Potential Project has helped organizations like Microsoft, Accenture, Roche, Nike, American Express, General Electric, Citrix, Google, Sony, Societe Generale, KLM, IKEA, Royal Bank of Canada, Ogilvy, Carlsberg and many more develop organizational excellence and helped thousands of individuals lead happier, kinder and more effective work lives.

Jacqueline Carter has over 20 years of consulting and management experience helping organizations manage change and achieve results. She is passionate about helping individuals and organizations realize their potential through training the mind. She is a Partner of The Potential Project International and Director of The Potential Project North America. Her clients include Google, Sony, American Express, Royal Bank of Canada, and Suncor to name a few. Jacqueline is a contributor to The Huffington Post and has appeared on Channel News Asia Breakfast Television, as well as radio talk shows.

Gillian Coutts has over 20 years of experience as a leader and change agent in the sales and operations functions of large corporations. She has worked across a range of industries including retail, government, transport, oil and gas, and human services. Gillian is a Partner with The Potential Project Australia. Her clients include Yahoo!7, Telstra, BUPA, and large not-for-profit organizations. She also sits on a number of boards and regularly speaks on integrating mindfulness into leadership, work life, and - following her own wake-up call of cancer diagnosis and treatment - programs for post-traumatic growth.