Spirituality in business

10 years ago the manager who mentioned spirituality in the boardroom would have been laughed out of court. Today it is the subject of articles in management periodicals, discussed at conferences and there are courses for business leaders on everything from Zen Buddhism to Benedictine Spirituality via New Age and neo paganism. 

The mention of spiriualitiy raises a whoIe series of questions such as, Is there a place for spirituality in the workplace? What are the potential benefits and dangers? Is spirituality related to religion? How does spirtuality relate to leadership? Is it just a fad? Isn't it irrelevant?

The realisation that we are whole people and that we need to lool to our physical, mental and spiritual well being if we are to be effective is the driving force behind these developments.

Richard Gutteridge, our Principal Consultant in addition to being highly qualified in Human Resource issues is a licensed Reader in Nottingham and Southwell Diocese of the Church of England and a former International Railway Mission Council member. He brings a clear Christian perspective to these issues.

He writes -

Over the last few years we have seen the development of a Post Modern culture, a move away from Modernism based around logic and the “scientific method” towards a culture that is prepared to accept the reality of the “spiritual” area of our lives. Alongside this cultural shift we have seen the rise of “New Age” beliefs and neo-paganism. Business leaders can attend all manner of events about spirituality and the work place. Is this just another of the myriad of management fads? Is it an important aspect of business that has been neglected for too long? Or is it an irrelevance which threatens to distract business people from the main task of creating wealth?

One of the key differences between this new spirituality and traditional religious belief is that whereas in religion there are a set of shared beliefs and doctrines, in the new spirituality it is far more individualistic, a pick and mix of beliefs, practices and techniques.

The idea that Spirituality is something that is important to business is certainly not new, it is a theme of the biblical writers down the centuries. God is concerned with the totality of life which includes business. The prophets of the Old Testament complained about weights and measures that were unfair. The writers of the New Testament wrote about prompt payment for work carried out. It was spirituality which gave rise to  "The Protestant Work Ethic" in the 19th Century and was the driving force behind such organisations as The (International) Railway Mission and The London City Mission. The end of the 20th Century saw the growth of a number of work/faith initiatives, such as "God on Monday" and "MODEM". So, no it is not a fad, but a long tradition that has had a profound influence on the way in which business has developed. An irrelevance? The whole issue around spirituality in the work place is a realisation that “holistic” management, which includes a recognition of the spiritual, has a positive impact on the bottom line. The contention is that the whole area “spirituality” has been neglected not only by business but ignored by society through much of the 20th Century. 

A new millennium demands new ways of thinking and new ways of leading, but the area of spirituality holds as many dangers as opportunities. There is no such thing as a quick fix in the area of spirituality, make sure you get the best advice before venturing into uncharted water.

To find out more contact info@arrowheadtraining.co.uk

For more information about workplace spirituality click here