I recommended this book to the Xenium Book Club after becoming intrigued by what I have read about Google and their positive culture. Search Inside Yourself, a course that has received recognition by business and thought leaders, was spearheaded by Chade-Meng Tan, an engineer and “happiness/culture” leader at Google. Tan’s objective is to share the content of the course with the world and ultimately promote world peace. While Tan admits that his aspiration of world peace is highly optimistic, his belief is that helping people develop skills to experience personal happiness and peace transforms how they view and respond to the world around them.
The practices and principles of the Search Inside Yourself program are rooted in Emotional Intelligence, which research has linked to greater leadership effectiveness, professional success and a stronger sense of overall wellbeing. Referring to himself as a stereotypical engineer, Tan uses logic and sensible language to teach others about increasing Emotional Intelligence through tested mindfulness and communication techniques. The ability to expand our awareness through mindfulness practices allows us to be more focused in our work, present in our experiences and interactions with others, and express our true intentions and values consistently.
When developing the curriculum, Tan was very thoughtful about how he could take a practice such as meditation and relate it to an audience of businesspeople. Tan references Positive Psychology research which demonstrates that regular meditation expands our positive mental state. He demystifies the practice by introducing it as “mind training”, comparing it to physical exercise, as it builds both mental and emotional strength through consistent practice. His use of humor and complementary exercises allow individuals who may have never had exposure or interest in the concept of mindfulness an opportunity to experience how it can be effectively applied in a professional environment.
I have referred to the exercises for practicing Mindful Conversations in a leadership and communication training I facilitate for Xenium. While I am familiar with the concepts of active listening and “looping” as Tan references in his book, I now also understand the importance of “dipping” during conversations. Dipping is the practice of checking in with your own thoughts and emotions throughout a conversation (regardless of whether you are the speaker or listener). In addition to giving your full attention to the person speaking, dipping allows you to recognize your emotions and be thoughtful about your response, as opposed to reacting in a way that may not be consistent with your intended outcomes for the conversation.
Search Inside Yourself is a light, fun read that reinforces the value of developing self-awareness and social awareness to cultivate wellbeing and success. While the concept of mindfulness may seem foreign and mysterious to some, the impact of individual happiness on employee performance and organizational culture is observable and clear.
Book Review: Search Inside Yourself by Chade Meng Tan
