Juliet Adams

Juliet Adams MSc FCIPD

I have spent most of my career working with organisations on strategic learning programmes, organisational development, and major change projects. Over the years I have worked on national projects for the police and several standards setting bodies. My Master’s degree dissertation explored how leaders are developed within organisations, so I specialise in leadership development.

Working with organisations in recent times has taught me that after years of cost cutting and downsizing, 'carrying on as usual' is simply not an option. Organisations need a new way of working - but what? I started looking for a new way to improve workplace performance whilst also promoting well-being.

I first heard about mindfulness at a business coaching conference. The outcomes leaders were experiencing after as little as eight weeks training far exceeded the gains from traditional leadership programmes. On top of this, MRI brain scans demonstrated that mindfulness could physically change the structure of the brain for the better. I was hooked!

I decided to take responsibility for helping to connect the world of work with the benefits of mindfulness. I launched Mindfulnet.org as a free independent mindfulness information resource. I attended MBSR & MBCT training. I attended teachings with Jon Kabat-Zinn, and conferences on the neuroscience of mindfulness. Eventually, I trained as a mindfulness teacher.

I authored 'making the business case for mindfulness' and arranged the first Mindfulness at work conference at Robinson College Cambridge in 2012. I'm currently working with a leading UK Management school to arrange the 2014 conference. Demand for Mindfulness at work training has now overtaken my leadership development work. I teach mindfulness to groups of staff in the workplace. I also teach one to one with senior staff.

I continue to work hard to make mindfulness more accessible to the world of work. My review of research into mindfulness suggests that mindfulness training can improve leadership, strategic thinking, productivity, self-management, relationships at work and well-being. I am keen that my work adds to the research base for mindfulness at work. With that in mind some of my course outcomes have been independently evaluated by mindfulness researchers. The majority of my course outcome data (in anonymous format and with the permission of participants) are collated and shared to inform course development and research further.

I live in East Anglia and love the open landscape and big skies. When not working I enjoy exploring local waterways by boat, or pottering down back roads on a classic British motorcycle.