The Potential of Contemplative Practices to Promote Inclusive Behavior in the Workplace: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) programs in organizations continue to fall short of expectations despite the extensive research in this field and billions of dollars corporations invest every year to make organizations more inclusive. This study recruited 225 individuals from large global organizations to investigate the association of contemplative practice habits with DEIB engagement and test via randomized-control audiovisual vignettes whether a rapid DEIB training intervention based on contemplative practices and transformative learning principles could be significantly more effective than typical knowledge-based training to promote inclusive behavior. Individuals with a regular contemplative practice habit were significantly more likely to be engaged with DEIB initiatives than those without one, and a regular contemplative practice had a significant effect on DEIB engagement levels measured as frequency of engagement and depth of contribution to DEIB programs. Moreover, the training intervention had a significant impact on males without a contemplative practice as measured by compassion scores, suggesting that training incorporating contemplative practice elements and transformative learning experiences can be more effective than knowledge-based programs. The study also provided insights on the psychological mechanisms involved in the development of prosocial behavior in the context of DEIB. Future studies should continue to explore the significant role contemplative practices can play in nurturing inclusive behavior given their potential, cost-effectiveness, and accessibility.