Mindfulness in the Workplace

A recent article about mindfulness in the workplace claim that if senior management is not mindful then the rest of the team's mindfulness is wasted.
I couldn't understand why this statement kept on scratching away at my sub-conscious. It is starting to dawn on me that it is because inherently it goes directly against the principles of mindfulness.

Non-judgement:
It implies that to be mindful people around us have to be mindful or in a specific state of mind. Where-as my understanding is that mindfulness is to be in the present moment - notwithstanding what the moment might be. Not judging or evaluating the moment or the people or me per se - just being. Thus senior managment not being mindful is filled with judgement - how does one know if another person is not mindful? It implies that for me to be mindful others around me have to mindful and in a special state of mind. It suggests that one needs special conditions to be mindful and that mindfulness is only possible if others are the same.

Awareness
Unfortunately being mindful is not easy, not a special state of mind and does not depend on others to achieve. It is moment to moment awareness of the self and personal experiences - our repsonse to daily happenings whether it is senior managements attitudes or a child spilling milk or observing a bird in flight. It is about bringing our attention to THIS moment and THIS moment. Being aware of what is taking us away from the moment and bringing us back to where we are. other people's mindful experiences are theirs and have no impact on me as a person - it is their awareness of their moment.

Beginners Mind
Every moment, event or routine activity is approached with a beginners mind - no moment is ever the same. Thus senior mangament not being mindful is perhaps based on previous experiences and not the present.

Ultimately the only people we are in control of is ourselves - we cannot change other's thoughts, emotions and behaviours.

Being mindful in the workplace brings it back to the personal experience - what am I feeling? What am I doing and where do I experience this in the body and instead of jumping on the automatic reaction train to pause, reflect and choose how I respond.
Modelling mindfulness behaviour and sharing the benefits is a non-intrusive and respectful way of introducing mindfulness to others.

Certainly is is very challengning wanting to bring mindfulness practices or training in the workplace when senior management is not committed to it - the challenge will be to find creative solutions. perhaps the biggest challenge is to show that mindfulness is not being in a special state of mind but just being - in the moment - every moment, every day.