Mindfulness within an organizational context: A premise for the intrasubjective being.

by Benjamin B. White

This study explored the capacity of mindfulness to counter mechanistic properties o behavior within an organizational context. By countering the mechanistic properties, individuals have greater potential to (1) become mindful of professional and personal growth opportunities, (2) realize their holistic selves, and (3) broaden the organization's capacity for achievement.;The population of this study consisted of individuals whose roles and responsibilities included evaluating performance needs, developing interventions to address performance gaps, analyzing solutions, and implementing change initiatives within an overall performance system. The study's purposeful sample size consisted of the researcher and five co-researchers.;The study used a hybrid methodology based on heuristic self inquiry and systematic self observation to provide a method to cyclically inquire-observe-inquire-observe and capture rich descriptions of mindful occurrences, the mental states that resulted from the experiences, and the responses of the self to those mental states.;Lived experiences of mindful occurrences were documented in field notes, journals and a recorded group discussion. The data revealed characteristics of mindfulness as they related to the organizational social system, the components of the Meadian self (i.e, an "I" and a "me"), and the intrasubjective relationship(s) between the self s components.;The study's conclusions (1) revealed mindful experiences of thought, feelings, actions, behaviors, and the situations in which they arise, (2) substantiated the presence of a "me" assuming the attitudes of the organization; (3) revealed the presence of an "I" responding to the "me's" assumptions; and (4) founded the potential for an intrasubjective approach among the components of the self.;The occurrences of being mindful indicated that there exists the potential to leverage volition to recognize and control one's thoughts and feelings, as well as one's activities. Holistically understanding oneself provides individuals the capacity to (1) control mental and physical responses, (2) better manage requirements of external environments, and (3) provide comprehensive insight into the requirements of social systems within which individuals operate. This has implications for leadership relationships, understanding diversity, team development, sense-making, professional development and personal growth.

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