Flow’s Core Prerequisites: The Role of Servant Leadership, Mindfulness and Work-Life Balance

Flow is an optimal mental state of being completely involved in one’s activities. This correlational study explored an important, but rarely validated performance model in the workplace—flow. Building on the JD-R theory we recognized three key prerequisites of flow—servant leadership, work-life balance, and mindfulness. We analyzed 987 survey responses from two industries (service and manufacturing) in China. The study discovered that servant leadership, mindfulness, and work-life balance correlate with individual flow as key prerequisites. Further we discovered that the relationship between mindfulness and flow is moderated by the industry. Particularly, data from the manufacturing industry showed a positive relationship between mindfulness and flow but a negative relationship among service employees. Implications for performance and applied psychology research, theory, and practice are discussed.