I have been continuing my readings from this fantastic series from the Harvard Business Review. This volume is a curated collection of nine essays by leading thinkers including Daniel Goleman, Ellen Langer, Susan David, and Christina Congleton. It explores how mindfulness enhances emotional intelligence, leadership, and well-being in the workplace. It explores how mindfulness enhances emotional intelligence, leadership, and well-being in the workplace. Like with the other publications from this series, I took away more insights from some articles than others, however, all have value.
1. Mindfulness in the Age of Complexity – Ellen Langer
This was a great way to kick off the book. It argues that mindfulness is not just meditation but active engagement with the present. It is a part of wellness. Langer emphasizes “noticing new things” as the essence of mindfulness. Mindfulness is about cognitive flexibility and openness, not just calmness. I liked the example where is someone says “learn this so it is second nature, let a bell go off in your head because it is a mindlessness task.” Creative mindfulness discovers “necessities” which then become the “others of invention.” It is a fresh take that expands the definition beyond meditation.
2. Mindfulness Can Literally Change Your Brain – Christina Congleton, Britta Hölzel, Sara Lazar
This article explores neuroscience findings showing how mindfulness alters brain structure, particularly in areas related to attention, emotion regulation, and self-awareness. I took away great exercises where regular mindfulness practice strengthens the prefrontal cortex and reduces amygdala reactivity. It has got strong scientific grounding, highly persuasive.
3. How to Practice Mindfulness Throughout Your Work Day – Rasmus Hougaard & Jacqueline Carter
This article provides practical strategies for integrating mindfulness into daily routines—meetings, emails, transitions. You learn that micro-practices like mindful breathing and intentional pauses can transform work habits. Very highly actionable and relevant for busy professionals.
4. Resilience for the Rest of Us – Daniel Goleman
A little short. This article connects mindfulness to emotional resilience, showing how it helps people bounce back from setbacks. One is easy for short term gains while the other is harder but yield long term gains. At the end of the day, mindfulness builds the emotional muscle to handle adversity with grace. It is valuable for leadership and personal growth.
5. Emotional Agility – Susan David & Christina Congleton
Explores how mindfulness helps leaders manage their thoughts and feelings without being dominated by them. Stop paying too much attention to internal chatter. It is sapping important cognitive resources. Emotional agility is the ability to face emotions with curiosity and courage. One of the best articles in the book as it is deeply insightful and transformative for leadership.
6. Don’t Let Power Corrupt You – Dacher Keltner
The 19th-century historian and politician Lord Acton got it right: Power does tend to corrupt. This article discusses how mindfulness can counteract the corrupting effects of power by fostering empathy, humility, self-awareness, and graciousness. In essence, mindfulness keeps leaders grounded and connected to others. An important ethical perspective.
7. Mindfulness for People Who Are Too Busy to Meditate – Maria Gonzalez
Another practical article in that it offers alternatives to traditional meditation, focusing on presence and awareness in everyday tasks. You don’t need to sit on a cushion to be mindful—just be present. It is both practical and inclusive.
8. Is Something Lost When We Use Mindfulness as a Productivity Tool? – Charlotte Lieberman
This one critiques the commodification of mindfulness in corporate settings, warning against using it solely for efficiency. Mindfulness should be about well-being, not just performance. A necessary cautionary tale, though less practical.
9. There Are Risks to Mindfulness at Work – David Brendel
No doubt, as this highlights potential downsides, such as emotional vulnerability and misuse in toxic cultures. Mindfulness must be implemented thoughtfully and ethically.You hear that, HR and culture leaders?
My favorite articles were Chapter 2: Mindfulness Can Literally Change Your Brain, Chapter 3: How to Practice Mindfulness Throughout Your Work Day, and Chapter 5: Emotional Agility
These chapters offer the strongest blend of scientific insight and practical strategies, especially useful for professionals in product leadership roles.