As the year draws to a close, many organisations find themselves grappling with the familiar challenge of flagging productivity. Leaders everywhere are questioning how to reignite energy, foster innovation, and deliver results. The answer may not lie in more control or tighter metrics but in cultivating stewardship and mindfulness as guiding principles.
Recognising the Productivity Trap
Traditional approaches to improving productivity often focus on external factors—process optimisation, technological upgrades, or stricter performance management. While these have their place, they frequently neglect an underlying issue: disengaged employees. A lack of trust, autonomy, and meaningful connection to the organisation’s purpose erodes motivation and stifles creativity (Hernandez, 2008).
The Stewardship Solution
Stewardship offers a powerful framework for addressing these challenges. Rooted in trust, collaboration, and shared leadership, stewardship focuses on empowering employees rather than micromanaging them. By giving individuals a sense of ownership and fostering a culture of mutual accountability, organisations can unlock intrinsic motivation (Hernandez, 2008; Mojekeh & Obikeze, 2018).
Key aspects of stewardship that directly enhance productivity include:
- Empowerment through Autonomy: Employees thrive when they have the freedom to innovate and take ownership of their work (Mojekeh & Obikeze, 2018).
- Trust and Communication: Open dialogue and a foundation of trust reduce resistance to change and enable seamless collaboration (Hernandez, 2008).
- Shared Leadership: Distributing leadership responsibilities fosters alignment and amplifies the strengths of the entire team (Hernandez, 2008).
The Role of a Stable Mind
Mindfulness complements stewardship by equipping leaders and teams with the mental clarity to navigate complexity and stress. A stable mind—a mind anchored in the present moment—enhances focus, creativity, and decision-making (Levinthal & Rerup, 2012). When leaders model mindfulness, they cultivate a workplace environment that prioritises well-being alongside performance.
Mindfulness contributes to productivity by:
- Promoting resilience: Employees better manage stress and adapt to challenges (Hafenbrack & Vohs, 2014).
- Enhancing ethical decision-making: Present-moment awareness reduces impulsive reactions and fosters thoughtful choices (Levinthal & Rerup, 2012).
- Building positive relationships: A mindful workplace encourages empathy and trust, key drivers of collaboration (Hafenbrack & Vohs, 2014).
Creating a Culture of Mindful Stewardship
Integrating stewardship with mindfulness creates a leadership approach that is both compassionate and effective. Leaders can take practical steps to foster this synergy:
- Model the Way: Demonstrate trust and mindfulness in daily interactions.
- Empower Teams: Delegate decision-making and celebrate autonomy.
- Invest in Training: Provide mindfulness and leadership development programmes to equip employees with tools for both self-regulation and stewardship.
- Recognise Success: Celebrate examples of stewardship and mindfulness to reinforce their value.
Leading into the New Year
As we prepare for 2025, we could shift the focus from managing productivity to inspiring it. Stewardship and mindfulness provide a sustainable path forward—one that delivers results and builds healthier, more engaged teams. A commitment to these principles ensures that productivity isn’t achieved at the expense of well-being but is the natural outcome of a thriving, purposeful workplace.
References
- Hernandez, M. (2008). Promoting stewardship behavior in organizations: A leadership model. Journal of Business Ethics, 80(1), 121–128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-007-9440-2
- Levinthal, B. R., & Rerup, C. (2012). Improving decision making through mindfulness. In Mindfulness in Organizations (pp. 190–208). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139012377.012
- Mojekeh, M. O., & Obikeze, C. O. (2018). Principle-centred leadership styles: Panacea for sustainable organizational productivity. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3412428
- Hafenbrack, A. C., & Vohs, K. D. (2014). Improving decision making through mindfulness. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2443808
