Psychology of Leaders and Leadership, Vol 26(1), Feb 2023, 67-91; doi:10.1037/mgr0000138
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. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)