Enhancing Readiness for Change by Enhancing Mindfulness

Abstract

It is argued that mindfulness enhances readiness for change. Based on a review of the literature on readiness for change and mindfulness, the article delineates propositions that specify the relationships between these notions. Thereby, mindfulness is conceptualized on the individual as well as collective or organizational level. On the individual level, mindfulness depicts a cognitive style that enhances readiness by making employees' attitudes and perceived experience more flexible and by improving perceived control and change self-efficacy. On the collective level, mindfulness is the result of processes of organizing that establish readiness-increasing organizational cultures which are characterized by learning, open communication, supportive working relationships and participative decision-making. The article contributes to the literature in three ways: (1) although readiness and mindfulness emphasize cognitive processes and positive factors while coping with change, this article points out that mindfulness has been neglected as a factor nurturing readiness; (2) this article highlights that by considering mindfulness, enhancing readiness for change can be explored on the individual as well as collective level which adds to previous research that mostly addresses only one level; (3) new theoretical and managerial implications can be drawn from taking mindfulness into account, and this article outlines practices that help to establish mindfulness and thus to develop readiness for change.