Introduction
‘My head is about to explode from dealing with emails every day.’ ‘I’m burnt out because I’ve got too much work…’ Do any of you recognise these feelings? In 2023, the US mindfulness market reached a value of 2 billion dollars (approximately 300 billion yen), and whilst companies have begun to take an interest in their employees’ mental health, the underlying problem remains unresolved.
In this article, we explain the ‘philosophy of Zen’ practised by Mark Benioff, CEO of the US IT giant Salesforce, as well as mindfulness techniques favoured by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Drawing on concepts such as the ‘beginner’s mind (shoshin)’ and ‘micro-practices’, we share practical tips on how to incorporate these into your business life.
I hope that, once you have finished reading this, you will have gained a new perspective on how to deal with stress.
It is the ‘beginner’s mind’ that is one’s greatest weapon
– Why do CEOs practise Zen? –
Mark Benioff, CEO of the US IT giant Salesforce, announced at an event in September 2024—to which he had invited 45,000 clients from around the world—that the company would ‘abandon all its existing business plans and concentrate its management resources on new products’. Underlying this decision is the concept of ‘shoshin’, known as a principle of Zen philosophy.
What is the ‘beginner’s mind’?
- A state of mind untainted by experience or preconceptions
- An attitude of ‘seeing things as if for the first time’ to broaden one’s horizons
- The difference between them and experts: rather than failing to learn from past mistakes, they always maintain a fresh perspective
Mr Benioff put this philosophy into practice ‘to turn the company’s fortunes around after it had been criticised for falling behind in the development race amongst the tech giants’. As a result, this led to a reduction in staff stress and an improvement in the company’s innovativeness.
Why is Zen necessary in modern business?
According to a survey conducted by Microsoft in 2024, out of 31,000 workers worldwide:
– 68 per cent said they were ‘struggling with the volume and pace of work’
– 46 per cent feel ‘burnt out’
These are the findings. The root causes of this pressure are often to be found in ‘past successes’, ‘perfectionism’ and ‘comparison with others’. Zen philosophy helps to remove these psychological barriers and bring out one’s true potential.
Practical mindfulness techniques you can use in the workplace
Based on interviews with several experts in the US and Europe, please incorporate the following three steps into your daily life.
Step 1: Focus on a single task
- Stop multitasking: Doing several tasks at once can be distracting and reduce the quality of your work
- The Habit of Seeing Things Through 100 per cent: If an online meeting is boring, just accept that it’s ‘a time to observe your own breathing’
- Tips for dealing with emails: If you write a reply whilst you’re still angry, your emotions will come through in your writing. It’s best to first take stock of how you’re feeling, then take two deep breaths to calm yourself down before replying.
Step 2: A 10-minute mindfulness exercise
Incorporate the following actions at the same time every day, such as immediately after waking up in the morning and having a coffee, or before going to bed.
- Instead of zazen: A simple breathing exercise is fine too
- How to focus your attention: Focus your attention on ‘this very moment’
- Effect: Your emotions will settle, enabling you to view things objectively
Step 3: 30-second micro-practices
Below, we outline some methods that even busy people can easily put into practice.
Point 1: Take a deep breath before replying to an email
[Step-by-step guide]
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- Receive emails
- Becoming aware of feelings of anger and anxiety
- Straighten your back and be mindful of your body
- Regulate your emotions with two deep breaths
- Make a calm judgement, taking into account the option of ‘not replying’
Point 2: Start the meeting by taking a moment to breathe together as a group
Simply by taking two minutes to breathe together as a group at the start of a meeting, participants will be able to focus on the discussion.
Point 3: Don’t check social media whilst eating at lunchtime
If you eat whilst scrolling through social media or reading the news, it numbs the sensory experience you should be savouring. Focus fully on your tasks whilst you’re working, and ensure a smooth transition back to work after your break.
The Difference Between Mindfulness and Zen—A Correct Understanding Enhances Effectiveness
What is ‘mindfulness’?
It is the English translation of ‘right mindfulness’, one of the Eightfold Paths of Buddhism. In the West, research is being conducted into its effects on stress reduction and improving concentration, with any religious connotations stripped away.
How does it differ from ‘Zen’?
According to Daikō Matsuyama, deputy head priest of Taizō-in at Myōshin-ji:
– Mindfulness ‘often seeks worldly benefits’
– Essentially, it is ‘a realm beyond such concerns’
– In Zen, ‘one acknowledges the grey area in situations that cannot be simply categorised as black or white’
Why should you learn both?
Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple in the US, enhanced his intuition and creativity through his devotion to Zen. Mindfulness, on the other hand, is based on scientific evidence and has been proven to reduce stress. By embracing both perspectives, you can improve your professional life more effectively.
The size of the US market
By 2025, the market for meditation apps and corporate training programmes had reached a value of 2.8 billion dollars (approximately 448 billion yen) in the US alone. This figure reflects the current trend, with many business leaders exploring ‘how to engage with their inner selves’.
Summary
Wisdom for Surviving the Age of the Heart
In the business world, technological progress shows no signs of slowing down. With the advent of AI agents and autonomous driving technology, tasks that were previously handled by humans are now being taken over by machines, and the value of human beings is shifting towards ‘critical thinking’, ‘empathy’ and ‘creativity’. In this context, what is crucial is one’s ‘state of mind’.
The greatest benefit of applying Zen philosophy to business is the attitude of not clinging to past successes, but always viewing things from a fresh perspective. This is not merely ‘mental training’. By maintaining a ‘beginner’s mind’, one’s true potential is naturally brought to the fore.
An executive at the US law firm White & Case states that this has become ‘more important than ever’ even in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The voices of business leaders who say they are ‘crushed by intense pressure and struggling with anxiety and difficult emotions’ highlight challenges that remain unresolved. What is important to recognise here is the fact that, as technology becomes more sophisticated, the need to ‘keep one’s wits about oneself’ becomes all the more essential.
Cultivating ‘Resilience’ in the Workplace
Complete one task 100 per cent before moving on to the next. This is the key to maintaining peace of mind. Multitasking—carrying out several tasks at once—disrupts your focus and reduces the quality of your work. You can feel the benefits even from small habits, such as taking a deep breath for 30 seconds or regulating your breathing at the start of a meeting
Final Message for All Readers
Mr Benioff, an American business executive, says that practising Zen requires ‘the humility to let go of past glories and one’s ego’. This is not limited to the world of business. To survive in this ‘age of the heart’, we need to cultivate a humanity that can hold its own against technology.
Small steps you can take from tomorrow
One of them is bound to change your mindset.
