The social, moral and economic benefits of embedding spirituality in the business formula.

We all know the magnitude of the chaos caused by the disregard of sound value-based corporate cultures leading to subsequent scandals. Financial disasters like Enron, Parmalat, Lehman Brothers, and WorldCom, just to mention a few, have led to a serious re-thinking and re-configuration of how a business should operate. We are in a time of retreat. The black cloud of recession is still somewhat hovering above us. It is precisely during this time that we need to discern our way forward to make sure that our business is safeguarded from irresponsible behaviors and unbridled tactics that not only harm the business reputation but may also prove to be catastrophic in the long run.

I should think that the first reaction of The Executive’s esteemed readers to the introduction of the subject of spirituality in the business arena is rather a reaction of shock. I am not surprised. We are used to hear much talk about ethics, corporate social responsibility, responsibility towards the environment and similar discourse. But to talk of spirituality within the business field is like trying to speak of divine matters during a cocktail party. Yet, growing research on spirituality in the workplace and in business settings clearly indicate that value based corporate cultures within any organization have contributed significantly towards increased productivity and profitability, employee retention, customer loyalty and brand reputation. The basis of spirituality in any workplace setting is nurturing trust, mutual respect and justice, integrity and a sound moral conduct in an environment where a ‘community’ spirit is encouraged.

For clarity’s sake, let’s clear the path to avoid any misconception. Spirituality goes beyond religion. Religion, obviously with full respect to all belief systems, may tend to invoke fears of dogmatism or exclusivity in the workplace. Spirituality is an individual matter; it does not rely on an external organization. Rather, it is an experience of depth in life, it is living life with heart rather than just superficially. Spirituality is an experience that there is much more to life than just the narrow, ego-oriented view of it. Spirituality is about embedding one’s value system, whether Christian or Jew or Muslim or whatever, into one’s way of being and acting, whether in the private life or in a corporate setting. At the end of it all, we are all children of the same God and a common understanding of the common good predominates in all major acknowledged religions.

But how can the business culture embed spirituality?

Embedding spirituality in the workplace does not constitute an alternative to the way one runs a business, but re-configures it by humanizing it from within. It redefines the corporate soul. First and foremost, the platform for embedding spirituality in the workplace is for the organization to develop a shared vision, a vision that not only caters for its organizational needs but also one that its employees are attracted to, excites them and causes them to want to put their own energy. The vision has to create a space for active participation, sustainability and a community spirit and seeks to synergize the entrepreneur’s goals with the legitimate expectations of the workforce. The vision has to be aligned with a higher purpose and deeper commitment to service both customers and the community. Within this new model of organization, a high level of both individual and organizational integrity is maintained. Management is not there to police its employees but rather seeks to develop the skills and the holistic development of its workforce. Responses to this kind of managerial attitude can be exceptionally surprising as the employee’s morale is boosted and he or she feels an integral part of the organization. To embed spirituality in an organization is to create a horizontal network of communication and co-operation within all levels, to create a supportive environment for the individual and to create an organization culture that supports personal growth.

Business is often considered hard, mechanical, controlling and determined primarily by financial considerations. But business people tend to forget that if a business is run without a noble spirit of service for the common good, it becomes dull and ego-centric. Such a business fails to transcend beyond the profit line and its vision is grossly impoverished, failing to go beyond unilateral thinking which is solely directed towards utility and the measurable. Business is run by people for the people and there would be no business if there were no people. To embed spirituality is to embed values, integrity, honesty, accountability, intuition, trustworthiness , justice , respect, service, excellence, dedication, healthy contact with the customer, and seeks not only the skills required for the job but also the personal development of the employee. Spirituality in the workplace is about empowerment of the workforce through the sustenance of individual responsibility and commitment. The spirit of creativity should not be limited to the top management but extended at all levels of the corporate hierarchy. When employees are encouraged to express their creativity the result is a more fulfilled and sustained workforce.

James A Ritscher, a management accountant and active member of the Organisational Transformation network remarks that “ Where spirituality is embedded within the organization , “self- righting” mechanism flow:- when something goes wrong, people have a natural tendency to bring it back on course, even if it takes a little emotional risk or in religious terms, a sense of “humility”. In other organizations, everywhere you look things have gone wrong, people don’t keep agreements, people are angry and aggressive with each other, teamwork is inadequate, managers sometimes treat their subordinates as children, policing rather than delegating responsibility – but these problems get locked in because it takes too much risk in confronting and correcting them due to personal ego, back- stabbing etc;

Spirituality within the organization seeks to create constructive ways to handle conflict. Characteristic of a spiritual organization is where the organization has a commitment to deal and resolve such problems – a predisposition to handling them, rather than putting them under the carpet, and thus the employee has a greater self- mastery and higher self- respect.

Entrepreneurs, however, should beware of creating a superficial vision with the subtle scope of distorting spiritual practices to serve some ego-centric trait. Some define spirituality at work as treating co- workers and employees in a responsible and caring way. Some go even further in participating in intuitive guidance at work, character formation, counseling, spiritual guidance and meditation sessions.

It comes as no surprise that Microsoft has an on-line prayer service, Pizza Hut hire chaplains from many faiths to minister to employees with problems, reducing staff turnover by half, and Apple Computer’s offices in California have a meditation room where employees are actually given some time to meditate or pray as they find it improves productivity and creativity, creativity that can emerge from a sound value based human interaction.

THIS ARITICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN ‘THE EXECUTIVE’ ( Business Magazine) in May 2011) – AUTHOR GORDON P VASSALLO