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Spirit has a place at work. So does spirituality, which is distinct from religion. Give employees reason and opportunity to connect their spiritual consciousness with their everyday work. They become motivated to increase their engagement with both.
Danah Zohar’s term “spiritual capitalism” makes clear the how of “spirit at work”:
Spiritual capital is the wealth or power an individual or organization has, based on their deepest meanings, values, and purposes. It is reflected in what that individual or organization exists for, believes in, aspires to, and takes responsibility for.
The benefits Zohar iterates make clear the why:
If the spiritual capital of a collaboration is high, that is, if a group has a common aspiration for its existence that they take responsibility for, then their collaboration will be an organic synthesis of the people participating. If the spiritual capital is low, it means you either don’t know what you aspire to or you don’t aspire to anything very high. It means you don’t know why you exist or you just exist to make a profit. It means you don’t think about what you take responsibility for because you’re caught up in your immediate goal, your short-term thinking. Spiritual capital, if it’s low, can tear a collaboration to pieces. Spiritual capital, if it’s high, is the glue that holds it together.
Think about your business, your workplace, your workforce…
- How does each recognize and appreciate spiritual consciousness?
- How does each relate the work one does to bigger and bigger pictures?
- How well does each allow (encourage) one to feel value for her work, beyond completing the job for the job’s sake?
- How much more could be done?
What are your thoughts about spirituality at work…and how to make it work? Please leave a comment.
