The Society for Human Resources Management featured an interesting article in its 2007 Research Quarterly entitled “Change Management: The HR Strategic Imperative as a Business Partner.” One particular paragraph states:
For HR and managers alike, recognizing the human side of change is a key factor in effective change management. In the business environment, this factor is not often sufficiently addressed. Beyond dialogue in the workplace, people need to attend to their physical well-being and nourish their psyches. To better deal with change, HR and managers can support employees – as well as themselves-by encouraging them to follow some simple but important practices: get enough sleep, at right, get regular exercise, relax with friends, engage in hobbies, indulge in something special and practice relaxation disciples (e.g., deep breathing, yoga). By focusing on emotional investments in areas outside the workplace, people can better achieve a sense of balance and control while going through change.
The human side of change is so significant. Practicing yoga is one way to cope and thrive with change in the workplace. Yoga’s focus on staying present, resisting the urge to rush into the future by moving too quickly into the next stage of a pose, using the breath to calm the senses, all ease anxious nerves or a tendency to worry over events that are not present yet.
How can workplaces encourage more employees to embrace activities like yoga, without sounding preachy? How can workplaces make the time for employees to DO these activities, without making them feel guilty for not being at work? We need to keep moving towards this “work/life” balance movement, for the sustainability of ourselves and our workplaces.