How Generative Mindfulness Can Contribute to Inclusive Workplaces

Abstract

Humanistic management and mindfulness practices can potentiate one another to foster an inclusive society. By moving beyond a limited instrumental understanding of mindfulness practice to a generative mindfulness that incorporates a recognition of the rich nature of the human mind, awareness of cultural practices, and deeply rooted ethical foundations, managers can create organizational cultures that honor the sacred in every human being. A set of interviews with noted consultants and researchers on mindfulness and leadership suggests convergence on this perspective, as does the experience of a university administrator in developing an anti-racist agenda for a large U.S. university. This article is based on both the personal experience and scholarly research of its authors and suggests ways that humanistic management education can contribute to creating inclusive workplaces through incorporating generative mindfulness in executive development as well as undergraduate programs.

The relationship between trait mindfulness and inclusive education attitudes of primary school teachers: a multiple mediating model

“…As a form of metacognition, mindfulness not only enables individuals to pay attention to their own experiences and achieve self-calm, but also enables individuals to influence people’s consciousness in conjunction with the wider world and cultural patterns. This allows mindfulness to combine ethics, compassion, and an appreciation for life itself, deepening one’s awareness of social inclusion, and ultimately situating oneself in the context of how one can contribute to others and to the sustainable development of society ( Goldman Schuyler et al, 2021 ). According to the Organizational Model of empathy ( Davis, 1996 ), a typical empathic episode is envisioned as the observer making contact with the target in some way, after which the observer generates cognitive, emotional, and/or behavioral responses.…”