Contemplation and Organization Studies: Why contemplative activities are so crucial for our academic lives

An essay argues that the current emphasis on measuring scholarly impact can stifle contemplation, which is essential for academic life. Drawing on Mary Oliver's poem "Sometimes," the author shows how organizational scholars already engage in contemplative practices that align with Oliver's "Instructions for living a life": paying attention, being astonished, and telling about it. The essay describes the range of such activities within the field and their integral connection to compassion. It concludes that these contemplative dimensions are important for scholars' experiences and developmental journeys.

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Abstract

Contemporary emphases on calculating the impact of our scholarship can be deadening if they lead us to refrain from contemplation. Thus, in this essay, I show the importance of contemplation and what contemplative dimensions of our scholarship might include. Based on four lines from the poem “Sometimes” by the poet Mary Oliver, I summarize ways that many activities carried out by organizational scholars embody Oliver’s “Instructions for living a life,” which consist solely of “Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” My summary shows some of the range of contemplative activities within our field, as well as integral relationships between contemplation and compassion. I conclude by highlighting the importance of the roles such activities play in our experiences of academic life and in our developmental journeys as scholars.