87% of UK Professionals Pigeonhole Meditation as a "Sleep Aid," Risking Innovation and Resilience

A new report (https://www.klarosity.com/the-untapped-asset) reveals a startling "perception gap" in British business culture. 

While elite athletes and Silicon Valley executives increasingly rely on meditation as a cognitive strategy to reshape the brain and optimise output, the vast majority of UK business leaders fail to recognise its impact on professional performance.

The report, titled "The Untapped Asset: 2026 Perceptions of Meditation & Performance" was commissioned by klarosity (https://www.klarosity.com), a platform dedicated to meditation for high-performance environments. The findings indicate that while UK leaders face unprecedented pressure to innovate, they are ignoring one of the most evidence-based tools available to help them do so.

The Wellness Trap

The independent study of 300 UK professionals, managers, and C-Suite executives found that the business community overwhelmingly views meditation solely through the lens of wellness and relaxation, rather than cognitive training.

87% of respondents associate meditation primarily with "Relaxation" or "Sleep".

Only 11% associate the practice with improving "Innovation".

A mere 4% see meditation as a tool for building "Leadership Skills".

The Science vs. The Perception

This widespread skepticism contradicts decades of neuroscientific research. The report highlights that meditation is not a passive act of "zoning out," but an active cognitive exercise that induces neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to reorganise itself structurally and functionally.

Contrary to the view that meditation is just for "calming down," the report cites evidence showing that consistent practice leads to measurable performance gains:

Sharpened Decision Making: MRI studies have shown that meditation can increase cortical thickness in the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for executive function, planning, and complex decision-making.

Resilience Under Pressure: Research demonstrates that meditation practice decreases grey matter density in the amygdala, the brain's "fight or flight" center. This structural change correlates with a leader's ability to maintain cognitive control and lower reactivity during high-stress situations.

Cognitive Focus: Studies on meditation have shown that even short-term meditation practice significantly improves attention span and conflict resolution scores compared to relaxation training alone17.

The "Innovation Deficit"

Simon Jones, (PICTURED) Founder & Managing Director of klarosity and externally accredited Meditation Teacher, told That's Business: “In high-performance environments like elite sport, meditation is no longer viewed as a 'wellness perk'. It is deployed as a critical strategy to sharpen focus and build resilience. Our data shows that UK business culture has not kept up. 

"We're seeing a clear 'Innovation Deficit.' In an economy that demands creative solutions and strong leadership, it is concerning that 87% of professionals still associate meditation primarily with relaxation and sleep, rather than performance. By pigeonholing meditation as just 'relaxation,' British businesses are leaving a massive competitive advantage on the table”.