Enhancing Social Intelligence in Public Enterprise Executives through Yoga: The Mediating Role of Mindfulness

This study investigates the potential of yoga to enhance social intelligence in public enterprise executives, with mindfulness as a mediating factor.Utilising a randomised controlled experiment design, 247 executives undertaking professional development programmes were allocated to intervention and control groups.The intervention comprised a 10-week yoga regimen including asanas, pranayama, and meditation.Social intelligence was measured using the Troms Social Intelligence Scale, whilst mindfulness was assessed via the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale.Results indicate that yoga practice positively influences social intelligence both directly and indirectly through increased mindfulness.The partial mediation observed suggests that whilst mindfulness is a crucial mechanism, it is not the sole pathway through which yoga enhances social intelligence.These findings contribute to the nascent field of contemplative practices in professional development by empirically demonstrating yoga's efficacy in cultivating social intelligence.The study underscores the potential of integrating ancient contemplative practices into contemporary public sector management, offering a novel approach to developing crucial competencies for navigating complex stakeholder relationships and societal challenges.