Interpretations of mindfulness practices in organizations: A multi-level analysis of interpretations on an organizational, group, and individual level

Organizations increasingly experiment with spiritual and wellness practices in contemporary work contexts. Particularly, mindfulness practices play a dominant role in this movement. Rooted in spirituality and applied in clinical psychology, mindfulness is explained as a tool for dealing with workplace demands. Despite the increasing interest in mindfulness practices and the critical debate on their appropriation in the business context, knowledge on how organizational members interpret these practices, is underdeveloped. This inhibits a comprehensive understanding of what these practices are meant to achieve, and what they imply for organizational members. Viewing organizations as interpretive systems, we investigate how organizational members interpret mindfulness practices on the organizational, group, and individual level. Our qualitative study reveals the multiple interpretations of mindfulness practices existing in organizations. On an organizational level, mindfulness practices are interpreted as generalizable human resource development tools, aimed at boosting performance. Yet, mindfulness produces uncertainties in the organizational level interpretation. On a group level, mindfulness practices are interpreted as a means to enhance group efficiency via improved personal relationships; however, they are also associated with creating dysfunctional group dynamics. On an individual level, practicing mindfulness is interpreted as a tool for self-actualization. Even so, individuals associate the risk of negative social ramifications with the practice. We show the multiple meanings of mindfulness in organizations. This informs the critical debate among organizational scholars and explains the multitude of applications. Further, the paper offers a balanced view on benefits as well as unintended consequences, in relation to former applications and interpretations of the concept.