Spirituality in the work environment increases profits

In any company, the real source of profit is the myriad of individual actions taken by individual workers. By adding value to those acts, profits increase.

Such corporate nous is to be found in a book, Spiritual Intelligence in the Workplace, by Catherine McGeachy. She says that an Ian Mitroff and Elizabeth Denton audit of corporate America found that "a key determinant of a successful bottom line is spirituality.

"They found that employees connected to their spiritual centre outperformed their 'disconnected' colleagues and concluded that spirituality may be the ultimate competitive advantage." However, most employers in the audit did not know how to connect to their spiritual centre or to apply the hypothesis to their workplace.

McGeachy marshals The 100 Best Companies to Work for in America authors Robert Levering and Milton Moskowitz, who argue that "companies are recognising that it is good business to share ownership and profits, to care for the physical and emotional needs of employees and their families, to provide opportunities for personal growth and advancement and to support the local community and serve humanity".

Citing a survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit, which ranked human performance ahead of productivity and technology as a source of competitive strength, McGeachy says the ability to attract and retain the best people will be the primary force influencing business strategy by 2005.

A Harvard Business Review case study shows that "for every 5 unit increase in employee attitude, a company can drive in excess of a twofold increase in customer impression, which drives a 1.5 times increase in revenue growth". Further hammering home the point, the same study shows that "if an organisation makes itself a compelling place in which to work, it becomes a compelling place for customers" and a compelling place in which to invest.

McGeachy cites a study by Wilson Learning Corporation of "Business Performance, Employee Satisfaction and Leadership" involving 14 organisations and 25,000 employees in the US, which found that "approximately 39 per cent of variability in corporate performance was attributed to the personal satisfaction of the employees". McGeachy deduces: "So, identifying and managing employees' emotional needs is a key competence for the contemporary leader looking to enhance the bottom line."

Other studies have found that "employees that work for organisations that encourage spiritual values are less fearful, less likely to compromise their values, and have more focus and motivation on the job". Meanwhile, a study by a global operator in staffing services, Robert Half International, concluded: "CEOs should spend about 34 per cent of their time building the morale and productivity of their staffs".

When workers are happy, they are more productive and creative, and enjoy increased fulfilment.

Says McGeachy: "Personal fulfilment and high morale are closely linked to outstanding performance and, therefore, have a direct impact on an organisation's financial success."

Having established why there is an increased interest in spirituality at work, McGeachy explains what spirituality is and that it does not mean religion. Rather, in a workplace setting spirituality is expressed as a set of shared values, rules and behaviours designed to empower the individual worker.

A comprehensively researched, easy-to-read and fascinating book, it goes on to describe the characteristics of work environments supportive of spirituality. It then explores how an organisation might tap into spiritual intelligence in the workplace, points out some dangers and concludes with personal stories including those of a senior executive, company director, bank manager and a managing director.

The book is particularly strong on the benefits of organisations working with people whose personal and work missions are compatible. She sees helping workers to discover their life purpose and ensuring that their work is consistent with that personal mission as an important role for the spiritually intelligent organisation.

jmarms@irish-times.ie