Business Success
Explore why some business leaders practise Transcendental Meditation, what workplace research has measured, and what cannot yet be concluded about leadership, decisions or organisational performance.
Ray Dalio founded Bridgewater Associates, one of the world’s largest and most successful hedge funds. He has practised Transcendental Meditation for over 50 years, describing it as “the single biggest influence” on his success. Dalio has described personal benefits from the practice. This is his own account; it does not establish that TM caused his business success or that others will experience the same effects.
Building Success from Within
Business success depends on far more than technical ability. Leaders and employees face constant demands on attention, judgement and emotional resilience, making stress and burnout important workplace concerns. Research suggests that Transcendental Meditation may help address some of these pressures. A six-month randomised trial involving 129 Australian university employees found improvements in stress, burnout, anxiety and depressive symptoms, sleep and wellbeing. Its findings on work-productivity impairment were promising, although inconclusive in the main analysis. These results support considering TM as part of an employee wellbeing programme, while further research is needed to establish benefits for productivity, leadership or decision-making across different workplaces. Our analysis of Mental Health First Aid at work also explores why individual support should sit alongside organisational measures to address the causes of workplace stress.
Scientific Research on TM and Business Performance
Research has examined Transcendental Meditation across stress, psychological wellbeing and some health and cognitive outcomes. Such findings may prompt questions about demanding workplaces, but they cannot be assumed to demonstrate improved leadership, productivity or decision-making unless those outcomes are measured directly.
New research: TM and workplace performance
A six-month randomised controlled trial of 129 Australian university staff found significant improvements in stress, burnout, anxiety and depressive symptoms, sleep and wellbeing following TM compared with usual workplace wellbeing provision.
Work-productivity impairment also improved, although the main analysis narrowly missed statistical significance (p = .061); a robust sensitivity analysis found a significant improvement (p = .021). There was no significant reduction in sick leave.
The findings strengthen the workplace wellbeing case for TM and offer promising initial evidence on productivity. Further trials are needed to establish productivity benefits.
Transcendental Meditation, Workplace Stress and Burnout
A small randomised controlled trial involving staff at one therapeutic school reported reductions in perceived stress, depressive symptoms and burnout over four months. It did not directly measure productivity, decision-making, leadership, teamwork or overall business performance.
✓ Randomised Controlled Trial
✓ Conducted with working employees
✓ Published in a peer-reviewed medical journal
✓ Significant reductions in stress, depression and burnout
Explore Related Topics
Peak Performance
Learning & Achievement
Wellbeing & Health
Recovery & Rehabilitation
Ready to Learn More?
If you are considering Transcendental Meditation for yourself, a leadership role or your organisation, a free information talk offers an opportunity to examine the evidence, understand how the technique is taught and discuss its possible relevance to your working environment.