Introduction
The action of meditation has been performed for countless centuries. As such, meditation has been used for thousands of years to cultivate present-moment consciousness. It may include techniques to improve concentration and attention, engage with the body and breath, cultivate tolerance of challenging feelings, and even transform awareness (Bertone, 2021). Further, the practice offers a variety of mental and physical advantages, including stress reduction and enhanced immunity.
In organizational management, this action is used in firms worldwide to foster a sense of inner peace, tranquility, and unity among members. In this sense, meditation may provide an answer to the rising need for conflict resolution amid discord, stress, and hectic routines among staff. Even if there is no suitable or inappropriate method for meditation, it is essential to find a practice that suits a company’s requirements. Thus, there are many popular forms of meditation techniques that a leader can utilize, such as mindfulness meditation, concentration meditation, transcendental meditation, and loving-kindness meditation. Thus, meditation has been demonstrated to promote mental, emotional, and physical health by lowering stress and anxiety, fostering awareness, and boosting cognitive performance.
Loving-Kindness Meditation
As species whose continued existence depends on their capacity to form beneficial connections with others, human beings have a deep-seated desire to bond, to feel secure and adored, and to express affection. In this sense, Sirotina and Shchebetenko (2020) indicated that loving-kindness meditation (LKM) is a specialized form of Buddhist meditation that aims to foster conditional or contingent sentiments of compassion for oneself and others. In most cases, those who practice the art direct silent mantras at their targets. The process further involves generating intentions by conjuring a mental picture of the targets or by projecting a beam of light from the individual’s center toward others.
The targets shift gradually as one advances in their practice and follow an order that progresses from easy to difficult. In general, one starts with oneself, then moves on to loved ones, neutral targets, challenging targets, and finally everyone, though the order can vary (Sirotina & Shchebetenko, 2020). The concept of LKM is said to nurture four exceptional states of mind. They include appreciative joy, the feeling of happiness at other people’s success or fortune. Second is compassion, which is the eagerness to put an end to the distress of the troubled one. Moreover, appreciative joy is another state, and finally, equanimity, which is the ability to remain calm regarding the fortune of others.
Regarding conflicts that might arise in an organization, there are breakdowns in communication and misinterpretations of messages. Specifically, if one team member misunderstands the details about an important deadline for another team member, this can lead to a conflict. Therefore, organization executives can employ LKM to solve such contentions. To help team members develop their ability to empathize with others and improve their interpersonal interactions, managers should encourage them to engage in loving-kindness meditation.
This kind of meditation will be especially helpful for such tense groups. In such heated environments, the goal of LKM is to foster sentiments of boundless love, compassion, and tolerance towards all other sentient individuals outside oneself (Liu et al., 2020). During LKM practice, the manager gradually directs loving-kindness toward the two aggrieved parties. It may be done at any time and in a variety of positions, including lying on the floor, sitting, and walking (Liu et al., 2020).
Compared to conventional meditation techniques, LKM is simple and easy, less vulnerable to time and space constraints, and can be practiced anywhere. Thus, LKM is better suited to organizational conflict resolution techniques and will not hinder their job operations. Generally, a meditation on loving-kindness, when practiced regularly, may help workers feel more attached and empathetic, which, in turn, can contribute to a more pleasant and supportive work environment.
Transcendental Meditation
The Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique is a form of meditation in which one silently repeats a mantra in one’s mind. The objective of the TM method is to induce a condition of calm attentiveness in the body (Transcendental, 2022). The body is profoundly rested, and the mind is calm, yet the individual is fully awake. With this style of meditation, the busy mind relaxes inward until the practitioner transcends into a state of pure awareness.
The technique of transcendental meditation is straightforward and undemanding. A person finds a comfortable position, closes their eyes, and practices for 15-20 minutes a day (Transcendental, 2022). With the TM approach, users focus inward on a mantra they recite silently in their heads. In this way, TM directs the participant’s consciousness toward the mantra.
The technique’s mantras are not words for objects, emotions, or encounters. They are tunes that help shift people’s focus from active thought to a higher level of self-awareness. Therefore, TM is beneficial to a person’s psychological well-being, particularly in terms of decreased anxiety and perceived stress, decreased depression, and enhanced coping abilities.
When employees within an organization have distinct personalities, communication styles, or work habits that collide, organizational conflict may occur. For instance, an outgoing team member and an introverted team member may clash, leading to conflict. In fact, TM is more successful in conflict resolution. TM practice fosters a person’s inward development by promoting exceptional psychological maturity. Through this, the mind will be educated to remain in the present rather than being caught up in the past or the future. As a meditation technique, awareness is a positive step forward.
Nonetheless, TM advancement is associated with greater physiological benefits that may be realized. In this aspect, TM provides a far deeper level of relaxation than sleep. The approach ensures aggrieved individuals minimize their hatred, fury, and outbreaks of violence in organizations.
Furthermore, Orme-Johnson (2022) emphasized that learning TM while employed in a work setting reduces the likelihood of resentment, as it modifies the offended people’s thinking and conduct (Orme-Johnson et al., 2022). Hence, they are more likely to maintain their composure and seek a peaceful resolution to the issue. Thereafter, TM individuals shift from a conformist, dependent, exploitative perspective to a self-conscious stance, marked by heightened awareness of standards and objectives.
Mindfulness Meditation
The purpose of mindfulness meditation is to cultivate a unique awareness of the cognitive value in individuals. According to Dawson (2021), mindfulness meditation refers to a distinct subfamily of Buddhist-derived meditation practices. Additionally, the practice pertains to self-regulation of focus on one’s present sensations while assuming a disposition of openness, acceptance, and inquiry (Dawson, 2021).
Mindfulness meditation means sitting silently and is primarily defined by monitoring one’s encounters without altering them. Meditations on mindfulness offer a concise understanding of the current moment by observing one’s own emotions, ideas, and experiences without emotional attachment. This kind of meditation relaxes the part of the brain responsible for stress and encourages it to let go rather than fixate on things. Mindfulness meditation will help you let go, gain emotional stability, and focus on the present. As concentration drifts, the brain learns to return to the present moment.
In management, mindfulness meditation is fundamental for resolving conflict. For example, when people or groups within an organization hold distinct beliefs or aims that conflict with one another, this may lead to conflict within the company. In this way, the majority of managers face uncertainty, elevated demand, complex circumstances and interconnections, rapid change, contradiction, and ambiguity daily (Donaldson-Feilder et al., 2019). For instance, one team could prioritize delivery speed over quality, whereas another could prioritize quality.
Progressively, it has been identified that these variables contribute to stress-related health issues, illness unavailability, and varied staff turnover. In turn, this impacts the efficiency of the leaders themselves and, based on their behavior and strategy, may also affect the well-being and achievement of their subordinates (Donaldson-Feilderet et al., 2019). From this perspective, the use of mindfulness meditation treatments in management development is logical. This is because enhancing the well-being of leader and manager respondents aims to benefit not only the people involved but also those they lead and manage. Importantly, it can resolve a conflict by showing that mindfulness has a favorable association with genuine leadership. Hence, mindfulness enables members to assume the role of an onlooker and to grow in embracing things as they are, without experiencing any adverse emotions—the practice reduces stress, which is a mediator of the link between mindfulness and leadership effectiveness.
Concentration or Focus Meditation
By utilizing this kind of meditation, one may focus on a specific object, sound, or sensation rather than striving for mental clarity without an evident focal point. Thus, the practice of directing thoughts so that attention is focused on a single point is referred to as concentration or focused meditation (Scott, 2021). In focused meditation, the practitioner directs their attention to their breath, a mantra, a visualization, or an object, among others.
The purpose of developing one’s ability to concentrate, improving mental clarity, and cultivating a feeling of inner peace is to achieve concentrated meditation. During concentrated meditation, the practitioner would often sit in a comfortable position in a peaceful location, with their eyes closed or open, depending on the method they were using. They then direct their attention to the selected concentration point; hence, they bring their thoughts back whenever their attention wanders.
When tension is present in an organization, this kind of meditation might be extremely effective. For example, when there is rivalry for leadership positions within the company, there is a potential for conflict. For instance, if two individuals are both striving for the same promotion, this might cause tension between them and their supporters. Hence, concentration meditation offers a particular place of attention that serves as a focal point to which such people may refocus their thoughts whenever they begin to stray. While focusing on a single point may help calm their minds and reduce mental chatter, it can also be an effective way to lower tension and worry.
As such, it is anticipated that persistent practice of concentrative meditation would lead to improvements in perception brought about by shifts in attention over time. In particular, the practice of concentrated meditation may also be used to enhance the two contentious parties’ ability to manage their time effectively. Therefore, assisting disputing groups in prioritizing their available time and concentrating on the most crucial aspects of their disagreement (Singh & Srinivasan, 2019). Individuals can develop greater awareness of how they use their time and make deliberate choices about how to allocate it as a concrete resource, thereby visualizing its use.
Conclusion
Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years to enhance mental, emotional, and physical well-being. It entails training the mind to focus on the present, cultivate mindfulness, and cultivate a sense of inner peace and tranquility. In this study, meditation is essential for managing organizational conflict.
For instance, in LKM meditation, it may be beneficial to cultivate feelings of infinite compassion, love, and tolerance towards all other conscious beings. Moreover, TM is more effective in dispute resolution. The practice of TM genuinely mediates individuals from the inside, fostering remarkable psychological maturity. With mindfulness meditation, however, its relationship with actual leadership is vital for issue resolution. Concentrated meditation provides a specific point of concentration that acts as a focal point to which individuals can return anytime their thoughts begin to wander.
References
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