Nikolas Voth: Mindfulness at Work 5: Mindset

In the workplace, it’s not just about working on tasks—it’s also about working on ourselves. By cultivating the right mindset, we can turn every challenge into an opportunity and every task into an act of growth and fulfillment.
Here are five transformative mindsets to help you thrive personally and professionally, each building on the other for a seamless journey toward mindfulness.
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1. Now Mindset: Start with Presence
Presence is the foundation of mindfulness. It’s about being fully here, fully aware, and fully engaged in what you’re doing—whether it’s a task, a meeting, or a break. Without presence, we lack the clarity and energy needed to approach our work and ourselves with intention.
As the fictional Mindfulness Coach Joschka Breitner in Achtsam Morden might put it:
„When you’re giving a presentation, you’re giving a presentation. When you’re taking a break, take a break. It’s not a break if, in your mind, you’re still rehearsing your presentation. When the actual presentation comes, you’ll lack the energy you could have gained from a real break.“
Exercise: Protect your breaks
Commit to truly protecting your breaks. Take three deep breaths and let go of work-related thoughts during that time.
This exercise helps you to communicate your needs clearly and prioritize your well-being. Remind yourself: presence in each moment fuels presence in the next.
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2. Journey Mindset: Embrace the Process
Once you’ve established presence, it becomes easier to shift your focus from purely outcomes to enjoying the journey. This mindset is about appreciating the process, recognizing the value in each step, and finding fulfillment in the act of doing, rather than just the result.
Example: As a child, I loved puzzles—but after finishing them, I would knock them over onto the floor. Crushing all of the work. Of course, my parents were mad at me. Over time, though, they came to see the wisdom in my childish act of destruction: the journey was the reward, not just the outcome. Still, please preserve your work!
Exercise: Enjoy one task
At the start of the day, identify one task to approach with curiosity and enjoyment. Reflect on how the experience—not just the outcome—contributed to your growth.
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3. Growth Mindset: Adopt the White Belt Mentality
The Growth Mindset embraces the white belt mentality, a concept from martial arts. Regardless of your experience or achievements, wearing the white belt signifies humility and a commitment to learning. It’s a reminder that there’s always something new to master, no matter how far you’ve come.
This mindset also requires modesty paired with impartiality—you can learn from anyone, no matter their role or status. Even as a top manager, maintaining a willingness to learn from others is essential for long-term success.
Reframe your perspective: Instead of thinking, “I already know this,” say, “What else can I discover?” Instead of, “I cannot do this,” say, “I cannot do this yet.”
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4. Value Mindset: Leave Every Situation Better Than You Found It
A Value Mindset is about using your unique strengths and skills to leave every situation, task, or interaction better than you found it. It’s about fully grasping the situation including its nuances and adding true value to it.
Exercise: Use your strengths
Before starting a task or entering a situation, pause and ask yourself:
“What impact can I make here that aligns with my strengths?”
At the end of the situation, reflect briefly: “How did I contribute to this situation?” Even small positive actions can create a ripple effect of growth and improvement.
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5. Synergy Mindset: Create Collaborative Wins
The pinnacle of mindfulness at work is realizing that success doesn’t happen in isolation. A Synergy Mindset focuses on creating mutual wins, building trust, and fostering an environment where everyone thrives together.
Exercise: Kindness counts!
Each day, count the acts of kindness you witness—not just at work, but everywhere. These could be small gestures, like a colleague holding the door or someone helping a stranger.
This simple practice trains your mind to notice the goodwill around you, helping you build trust, foster collaboration, and attract positive, well-intentioned people into your life. By becoming more aware of kindness, you naturally embody it, creating a ripple effect of synergy in your workplace and beyond.
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Conclusion: The Flow of Mindfulness
Each mindset builds on the next, creating a natural progression:
1️⃣ Now Mindset: Be fully present in each moment.
2️⃣ Journey Mindset: Find joy in the process, not just the result.
3️⃣ Growth Mindset: Embrace challenges with a white belt mentality.
4️⃣ Value Mindset: Leave every situation better than you found it.
5️⃣ Synergy Mindset: Build trust and thrive together.
Together, these mindsets form a holistic approach to mindfulness at work. Start today by practicing one simple exercise and watch as it transforms not only how you work but also how you grow.