Abstract
Higher education institutions in South Africa face numerous obstacles, including the challenge to be financially sustainable, to maximise outputs by using limited resources, and to consistently improve organisational performance. Moreover, practising and implementing mindfulness in the workplace is associated with its positive impact on improving productivity, promoting wellbeing and awareness, and encouraging employees to be fully present while at work. Historically, mindfulness has been utilised in the healthcare sector as a stress-based reduction tool. However, there is scant research regarding the impact of mindfulness in promoting organisational performance at universities. The purpose of this study was twofold: firstly, to explore the role of mindfulness in promoting organisational performance at a South African university and secondly, to comprehend whether employing mindfulness practices at the university will contribute towards enhancing organisational performance. Employing an exploratory qualitative research approach, 19 semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior and middle-level managers at a South African university. Interview data were analysed using a content analysis method where codes, categories, and themes were developed from the data. The findings indicate that by practising mindfulness at University X, management will obtain a better understanding of the challenges, faced by the university’s stakeholders. Moreover, through practising mindfulness, university staff will become more aware of the university’s goals and objectives, as mindfulness promotes a positive work-life balance for university staff and supports staff wellbeing, leading to better employee satisfaction. This study contributes to filling the gap in the existing and limited literature on mindfulness and its impact on organisational performance, particularly within the context of universities. Practical recommendations include that University X must develop mindfulness training for all staff, and that the university should encourage staff to perform mindfulness practices, such as meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, journalling, and walking