The bright triad of mindful leadership: An alternative to the Dark Triad of leadership
2023 (English)In: Psychology of Leaders and Leadership, ISSN 2769-6863, Vol. 26, no 1, p. 67-91Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
In this article, we draw on Buddhist psychology to consider the three attributes of high-quality social connections in the context of work, which are ethical mindedness, loving kindness, and compassion, referred to here as the bright triad of mindful leadership (BTML). These components constitute the positive counterparts of the dark triad components of mindless leadership (i.e., Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy). The research on the dark triad of leadership appears to “glorify” these qualities, through suggesting that high-scoring leaders are more successful in achieving business goals. We argue that this represents a too limited perspective and is one which poorly resonates with the increased focus on sustainable work and work conditions marked by well-being, fairness, security, and trust. BTML, however, taps into the call of the positive organizational scholarship field to focus on positive and virtuous practices, and to foster high-quality relationships and positive outcomes in the workplace. We, in conceptualizing BTML, furthermore use the concepts of cultivation, attention, and awareness to facilitate the leader’s presence in the moment, and we argue that these cumulatively are necessary conditions for the triad of ethical mindedness, loving kindness, and compassion to permeate all activities that leaders engage in.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
American Psychological Association (APA), 2023. Vol. 26, no 1, p. 67-91
Keywords [en]
mindfulness, leadership, positive organizational scholarship, Buddhism, dark triad
National Category
Psychology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-58980DOI: 10.1037/mgr0000138ISI: 000984586000004OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hj-58980DiVA, id: diva2:1713090
2022-11-232022-11-232023-10-09Bibliographically approved