Mindful Communication During Socialization Processes: Reducing Miscommunication through Mindfulness, Emotional Intelligence, and Sensemaking Narratives

Abstract

This study is an initial attempt to investigate how the practice of mindfulness meditation can be beneficial for a more effective communication during socialization processes. Indeed, given the greater mobility and flexibility required in the current labor market, it becomes important to understand how organizations can facilitate the adaptation processes of their employees. To this respect, this Thesis focuses on communication as a role- and cultural-related information conveyer. Moreover, it analyzes miscommunication resulting from external non-task-related stimuli, human’s basic psychological needs, and idiosyncratic interpretation of occurrences. In addition, this work studies how mindfulness meditation practice improves emotional intelligence dimensions that can result in limiting miscommunication sources. Finally, it triangulates results to understand whether such practice can facilitate socialization processes’ communication. It has been concluded that, even though miscommunication is inevitable due to individual’s idiosyncratic sensemaking, it is reasonable to assume that mindfulness practice increase communication’s effectiveness. The significance of these findings lies in setting the theoretical grounds for the empirical testing of the following hypothesis: Mindfulness practice can facilitate effective communication during socialization processes