Abstract
This paper identifies an empirically grounded process for how managers apply a meditative attitude to work in order to further personal growth. When managers actively engage in challenging situations with a meditative attitude, the process unfolds as the managers’ focus shifts from attending to suffering, to witnessing what is, and responding with authenticity. The study is based on qualitative analysis of empirical material generated during a two-year, in-depth, clinical inquiry of how seven CEOs and business owners of small and medium-sized companies integrate their spiritual development insights into their working lives. Meditation practice provides mangers with a foundation for personal growth by increasing their capacity to explore situations through a different light, changing their perspectives of life. This study shows that work can provide the individual with an environment where this capacity can be practiced and embodied in real time to further personal growth. © 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston