I have recently run TEDxStHelier in Jersey which featured TEDx
Speakers Garry Stern and Dr. Andrea Pennington talking about lifelong learning
and techniques for a better life through self control. Dr.
Andrea Pennington was a website dedicated to this: http://www.andreapennington.com/
So I was delighted, interested and strongly support Glenda Rivoallan’s initiative for a Research project
- The role of mindfulness in the development of resilience in Entrepreneurs
And the opportunity is prefect following ciChange work with
Solopreneurs and Independents, and also ciChange participation in the “Structural
Changes in the States”. With the States of Jersey “down-sizing” there is plenty
of need for the development of resilience, and the release of talent from States
of Jersey should hopefully create Entrepreuners, Solopreneurs and Independents.
AN OPPORTUNITY
Glenda Rivoallan, has
written to me as follows..
I am looking to gain volunteers who would be prepared to
embark on a 8x2 hours mindfulness intervention. I am looking for organisations
such as yours in Jersey to invite entrepreneurs (nascent, first time and
serial) to take part. The course delivered by Dr Alessio Agostino is normally
£480 and will be provided free of charge.
Participants will attend an 8 week MBCT programme consisting
of 26 hours of session time including two 1/2 hours and an all-day class, daily
mediation and completion of pre and post intervention measures. The main
hypothesis being that mindfulness may be beneficial in improving resilience
which is seen as important to the success of entrepreneurs (see abstract
below).
Participants will be asked to complete a number of
questionnaires before, during and after the intervention. Participants will
also be asked to complete a practice diary during the duration of the
intervention to record mindfulness practice techniques undertaken.
I would be delighted to talk this through with you and can
provide marketing material to highlight the benefits of participation in the
study. You may even want to do it yourself?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Glenda Rivoallan
Vice Principal – Lifelong Learning
Highlands College | PO Box 1000 | St Saviour | Jersey | JE4
9QA
SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Business leaders in general and entrepreneurs in particular,
experience high levels of stress/distress due to the increasingly competitive
and uncertain environments they operate within (Ayala and Manzano, 2014).
Challenging circumstances and the adoption of the behaviour patterns of the
surrounding culture minimize the likelihood of self-care (Freeman as cited in
Bruder, 2014). In complicating matters, as well as neglecting their health,
many entrepreneurs, harbor secret demons (Bruder, 2014). In particular,
new entrepreneurs struggle through moments of near-debilitating anxiety and
despair, times when it seems that everything might crumble. Rather than showing
vulnerability, business leaders have practiced what social psychiatrists call
impression management (Piwinger and Ebert, 2001; Goffman, 1959) also known as
"fake it till you make it” (Nagy et al, 2012). However, this can come at a
psychological price with entrepreneurs reporting higher levels of mood
vulnerability, anxiety and depression than employees (Bruder, 2014). The
development of resilience in individuals (Mowbray, 2011; Jackson, Firtko &
Edenborough, 2007; Neenan, 2009) and entrepreneurs (Bullough, 2014) is viewed
by many as a potential answer to the stress associated with contemporary
lifestyles and workplaces.
Increasing interest in the development of resilient workers
has meant an enormous growth in interest in the role of holistic practices such
as mindfulness mediation (Foureur et al, 2013). Kabat-Zinn’s mindfulness-based
stress reduction (MBSR) and Barnard and Teadale’s mindfulness-based cognitive
behavioural therapy (MBCT) are the most commonly used by those seeking to
practice, theorise or research mindfulness across mindfulness contexts. The
purpose of the proposed research is to explore the potential benefits of
mindfulness training in developing resilience in the context of entrepreneurs.
ACTION
If you are interested in this please contact Glenda
Rivoallan
