This study examines the effectiveness of mindfulness-based self-leadership training (MBSLT) in enhancing self-efficacy and resilience among organisational leaders. It further examines the effects on perceived stress, offering empirical insights into this integrated training approach for leadership development.
This randomised controlled longitudinal intervention study assigned leaders to either a six-week online mindfulness-based self-leadership training (intervention group) or a control group that received no equivalent training. Leaders were recruited from companies in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, with complete post-intervention data available for 128 leaders. Data were analysed using factorial analyses of variance (ANOVA), paired-sample t-tests and Bonferroni corrections to ensure statistical rigour and reliability.
The training significantly improved self-leadership, mindfulness, resilience and self-efficacy while substantially reducing perceived stress among leaders. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the integrated MBSLT intervention in improving psychological resources relevant to leadership functioning. By contrast, no significant changes were observed in the control group.
Drawing on self-regulation theory, this study is among the first to empirically examine the effects of an integrated MBSLT intervention in an organisational leadership context. The study evaluates the overall impact of a combined training programme designed to strengthen leaders' self-regulatory capacities. The results offer practical insights for designing leadership initiatives in high-pressure environments and emphasise future research directions to evaluate durability, cultural transferability, and organisational impact.
