NOVEMBER 9, 2020
SPIRITUALITY IN BUSINESS IS THE NEW BLACK
KATHARINA KUGLER
NOVEMBER 8,2020
SPIRITUALITY IN BUSINESS IS
THE NEW BLACK
Spirituality is not a topic we tend to speak openly about although all of us have made spiritual experiences to one degree or another (whether we are aware of it or not).
Talking about spirituality in a business context is even rarer, and often met with questioning looks and sympathetic smiles.
However, bringing spirituality into the business world is by no means part of an esoteric new age movement — in fact, it might just be the best-kept secret to create fulfilling careers and thrive in business…
I believe that it’s about time to demystify and normalise the topics of spirituality and personal growth and discuss how it can help to improve the way business is being done to create happier, healthier, and more abundant lives.
Defining “Spirituality in Business
Please bear in mind that this is not a universal definition of spirituality, it is based on my own views to-date, and I do not claim to be an expert and have all the answers. In fact, this definition is likely going to evolve, but let me attempt to put my understanding of it today into a few words;
“Spirituality is a concept of looking for answers from within, as well as all supporting practices and activities that aid a higher-level understanding and perspective on life itself.”
Spirituality often leads to feeling more connected to our inner selves and the world around us, a sense of unity and oneness with all, and it can therefore involve a search for the meaning and purpose of one’s existence.
Contrary to common beliefs, spirituality is not about religion, superiority, living alone in a cave, or doing nothing. Instead, it is about:
- Experiencing and creating deeper connections (improved relationships)
- Fostering alignment of your inner and outer worlds (feeling content and happy)
- Responding deliberately (as opposed to reacting to situations)
- Mastering the mind and ego (overcoming challenges faster and more effectively)
- Focusing on growing, learning, and getting better every day (achieving goals)
- Creating awareness of emotions (making better business decisions)
Although spirituality is a concept that is not talked about much in the business world (yet), I believe that it is the most underestimated leadership tool that is accessible to all of us.
In fact, spirituality may be the best-kept secret to building thriving businesses and careers.
Why should you consider bringing in more Spirituality into your business?
When you do the deep work and truly know who you are, what your purpose is, why you are doing what you are doing and how you want to show up, you can stop constantly questioning yourself and wondering if you are doing the right thing. Of course, your intentions will change over time and it is worthwhile to revisit them regularly, but you will notice that you are spending less energy and time overthinking and questioning.
Instead, your actions and intentions will be focussed on what’s right in front of you —
You will start to see meaning in the work you do & how your contribution completes the puzzle. You will notice how it helps you grow personally and professionally. As a consequence, your workday will be filled with more happiness and ease.
“Contrary to common beliefs, spirituality is not about religion, superiority, living alone in a cave, or doing nothing.”
There are many more benefits of bringing Spirituality into work, to name just a few:
Build a strong culture and team spirit by focussing on connection and communicating openly and vulnerably, so people can feel truly heard, seen and understood (=higher retention rates)
Feel more fulfilled by helping people become better versions of themselves by providing them with the tools and necessary freedom to create and shape their unique journeys (=happier people create better results)
Increase job involvement and reduce frustration as people start to work towards a greater purpose and want to be part of the movement you are pioneering (= higher retention rates)
Increase commitment through the effects of meaningfulness and positive feedback loops — people will stay where they feel they can have the most impact in their personal and professional lives (=joy of seeing others grow, creating impact beyond profits, higher retention rates)
Achieve higher organisational performance through the use of spiritual practices and techniques, such as using intuition and accessing alternate states of consciousness for complex business decisions and projects (=unlocking growth and higher performance)
Studies have already shown that incorporating spirituality in business enhances productivity remarkably, it reduces absenteeism and turnover of employees, and transforms the workplace into a more joyous, peaceful and serene space. It can help to improve communication, which consequently leads to higher levels of integrity, honesty, and a sense of belonging. All these factors combined lead to sustainable growth for the company and more stable, happier teams.
In times where rates of social insecurities and anxiety are high, helping people to become aware of their higher selves and making meaningful contributions is essential for the evolution of humanity —
The good news is that we have a historic opportunity to do things differently and create work environments where we recognise the importance of creating alignment between our inner and outer worlds to grow beyond what we thought was possible.
I truly hope that by reading this article, you start to recognise the power and potential Spirituality holds for the business world and I look forward to diving deeper into how we can use it and make it actionable and applicable in our work.
About the Author
Katharina works at humanplus where they blend data-informed business strategy with spirituality to create profitable, heart-lead and purposeful ventures that outperform the market without the usual grind and hustle, check out the links below.
Web: www.humanplus.me
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/humanpluscollective
