Spirituality and Work:
Demonstrating Value

by Brandon Jubar

In the United States today, many of us spend more waking hours with our coworkers than we spend with our families. The secular workplace has become our primary community. In the first article of this series, we examined the language barrier that prevents us from having a dialog without stirring up religious biases. Now let's look at the next challenge, which is overcoming obstacles by demonstrating the value of spirituality in the workplace.

Top-Down Methods Face Major Obstacles

Bringing spirituality into the workplace can be a top-down effort or a grassroots effort. In smaller organizations, or in those that are more tightly controlled, programs that promote spirituality are often implemented from the top down. When this is the case, there are often ample resources available to spread the word, whether through internal communications, workshops, or other forms of training.

One problem with a top-down approach in a larger organization is that employees are often accustomed to the "program du jour", having gone through numerous initiatives like TQM, Kanban, and Six Sigma. Another problem is that there is no guarantee that all of the people recruited to help implement changes are truly devoted to the concept. And without a true belief in the importance of spirituality in the workplace, there is little chance of overcoming the resistance that most new ideas face.

Grassroots Efforts Are Happening Today

Especially for a larger organization, a grassroots effort may end up being more effective than the top-down approach. In fact, most large organizations will already contain pockets of excellence where spirituality has been brought into the workplace. It is probably not referred to -- or even thought of -- as spirituality, but that's exactly what it is.

A supervisor who encourages people to spend time with their families, and then helps them to do just that, has brought spirituality into the workplace. That same supervisor may also allow people to volunteer as mentors for local students during the workday; or organize a way to raise funds for local charities. And then that supervisor makes a point of knowing each team member personally in an attempt to understand their values and goals, and help the team members reach their potential as people... not just as employees.

An effective grassroots effort might seek out these pockets of excellence and use them as models for other areas. Managers could set-up programs where new supervisors receive on-the-job training from the supervisor who has brought spirituality into the workplace, or perhaps a mentor/mentee relationship could be created. Whatever the case, an effective grassroots effort would find a way to make successes contagious.

Understand What It Is and Why It's Important

Whether an organization tries a top-down or grassroots approach (or some hybrid of the two), the most important element is that those committed to it must be able to evangelize. They must be able to convert others to the cause, so to speak. And the best way to do that is by showing the true value of spirituality at work.

One way is to look for the "pockets of excellence" mentioned above. Find those areas where spirituality is being encouraged and you will most likely find productive departments with satisfied, happy employees. You'll be able to show that in those areas where people are encouraged to know what they personally value and are shown how the work they do is of value to others, everything improves: morale, job satisfaction, quality, and productivity.

Spirituality in the Workplace is About Wholeness

Call it whatever you want. Use whatever terminology you prefer. Just come to grips with the understanding that we are spiritual beings. We are not machines or mere technicians, designed to perform tasks that are assigned, our only goal -- the meeting of metrics and measurements. People are more than that.

So when culture or the workplace demands that we leave our souls at the door when we arrive at our jobs, we are made less. We are forced to be incomplete. The very thing that makes us different than the animals is banned from the place where most working adults spend the majority of their waking hours. How can we ever perform at our best when the best part of us is not allowed to be involved?

People who are allowed to be whole are healthier, happier, and more productive. They are sick less, care more about the duties they perform, and are able to keep all things in better balance. They are not workaholics, but they are very industrious, creative, and they will not burn-out. Letting people be the spiritual beings they were created to be is better for them, better for the company, and better for our world.

Life Applications:

In what ways could you encourage spirituality at work?
Where is a "pocket of excellence" at your workplace? What makes it excellent?
Are your most productive peers workaholics or balanced people?

Copyright 2006 by Brandon Jubar
All rights reserved.