To what extent can a short meditation in the evening help broaden our perspectives the next day and thereby boost our performance and motivation at work?
To answer this question, a research group—which includes our vivamind CEO Stefan Diestel—is investigating the effect of a short evening meditation on work performance, initiative, and intrinsic motivation, focusing on perspective-taking as a key mechanism (the willingness to put oneself in others’ shoes). Sixty-four participants from various industries in Germany took part in a field experiment spanning 10 workdays; on 5 of those days, they received a 7-minute mindfulness intervention (via an audio guide), and on the other days, they received an active control intervention.
The results document the positive effects of the mindfulness intervention on perspective-taking the following day, whereas the control intervention showed no effect. As a result of perspective-taking, day-specific work performance, self-initiative, and intrinsic motivation during work increase significantly. Accordingly, an evening mindfulness intervention can help employees be significantly more productive and motivated during work the following day through perspective-taking. In this respect, the present study demonstrates how mindfulness can not only strengthen self-reflection and self-regulation but also broaden one’s own perspectives through an understanding of others’ concerns, thereby positively influencing one’s own work behavior and experience of motivation.