When trying to find ways to improve your MSP, chances are you’re first going to focus on things like KPIs or optimizing your ticket workflow.
These things are undeniably important. But they’re not the only way to affect MSP performance.
Your business depends on its people. And if you want to get the best possible results from your team, then you need to make their mental health a priority.
So it’s time to take a deep breath, clear your mind, and meditate.
While workplace mediation may seem like an unusual way to improve MSP performance, it can actually make all the difference for you and your team.
Mental health matters for MSP employees
Why are we even talking about workplace meditation in the first place? Because meditation’s impact on mental and emotional health makes it especially relevant for MSP employees.
There’s no two ways around it: working at an MSP can be stressful. Issues like problem clients or poor work-life balance can take a toll on employee mental health if their employers don’t have safeguards in place.
When 67% of MSP employees say their job is stressful — and 74% say they’re “expected to work outside of normal hours,” it’s clear the industry as a whole is all too often falling short in providing mental health resources.
In some ways, this is understandable. MSPs are responsible for keeping their clients’ tech up and running 24/7. In today’s tech-driven world, when something goes wrong, a rapid response isn’t just expected — it’s a requirement to keep a client’s business going smoothly.
This can create a high-pressure environment where MSPs and their employees are constantly busy. Even for those who think workplace meditation is a decent idea, it can feel hard to justify it as being worth their time when they’re already overworked and struggling to get everything done.
As a result, some MSPs might be willing to talk about meditation and suggest that their team practice it on their own, but still be reluctant to actually commit any meaningful time to it within the office.
However, meditation’s benefits don’t just apply to general areas of well-being. They can have a direct impact on the operations of your MSP — but only if you make it a priority.
The benefits of workplace meditation
Meditation is a proven method for enhancing mental health in a wide variety of areas. As Psychology Today reports, “Research has shown that meditation does not merely make one feel better or less stressed. There are physical benefits that appear to be backed up by clinical evidence. According to these studies, meditation can help individuals sleep better, cope with some symptoms associated with mental disorders like depression and anxiety, reduce some of the psychological difficulties associated with chronic pain, and even improve some cognitive and behavioral functions.”
Other noteworthy benefits of meditation include lowered blood pressure, lengthened attention span, greater self-awareness, and even increased kindness toward others.
Essentially, taking time out for mediation can have a wide-ranging impact on a person’s mental and emotional well-being. And these benefits can even carry over to some aspects of physical health, as well.
On the job, research has found that workplace meditation programs have helped improve employee concentration and energy levels at work. Other studies have found that meditation can improve focus, creativity, and mood — all areas that can be a big benefit when trying to troubleshoot for a stressed-out client.
With so many potential gains from practicing meditation, it’s clear that MSPs have a lot to gain by offering meditation programs through work. But how do they go about doing that?
Ways to implement workplace meditation
There’s not necessarily a one-size-fits-all solution to making meditation a priority at your MSP. However, these examples can hopefully help you find options that work well for your team.
Many larger companies, such as Google and Sony, actually offer on-site meditation classes to their employees. These classes are run by a trained meditation instructor, who walks employees through a guided meditation session.
Alternatively, many of these larger companies set aside a room that’s specifically designated for meditation, prayer, or quiet time. The idea with these rooms is that employees are free to use them whenever they feel like they need to take a mental health break.
Many companies also give their employees access to additional mental health resources as part of their benefits packages. This could include a free subscription to a meditation app, gym memberships, or other similar benefits to promote mental health outside the office.
What matters most, however, is that your MSP adopts a culture where meditation and other mindfulness practices are encouraged. Meditation doesn’t need to be a time-consuming, hour-long event. In fact, something as simple as a 3-minute meditation can help employees destress and refocus.
At Syncro, our leadership team takes five minutes at the start of each of their meetings to breathe together. They report that meetings feel less harried, and people are more open to discussing ideas in a thoughtful way when meditation kicks things off.
Regular communication about the value of meditation and other mindfulness practices is a good start. But your culture needs to reflect your commitment to this mental health practice. Employees shouldn’t be discouraged from taking a meditation break when they need one. Leading by example, setting up a designated space for meditation or quiet time, and encouraging everyone to participate can ensure greater buy-in.
It may take some time, but meditation can become a natural part of your company culture. And in the hectic world of an MSP, this will have a powerful impact on your team’s mental health and productivity.
Unlocking your performance potential
At first glance, meditation may not seem to give the same immediate benefits that you’d get from upgrading your workflows or operating systems. But few things are more valuable than your team’s mental health. By promoting good mental health practices, you can enhance productivity and retention and create a better place to work.
Workplace meditation can be a key part of your MSP’s mental health emphasis. By committing time to this practice and making it a priority with your team, you can create a stronger, healthier work environment for everyone.
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