Spirit at Work

Paul is a member of the International Center for Spirit at Work. The following essay illustrates Paul’s passion for the application of principles and practices of spirit in the work place.

I believe that, as business leaders, we have a responsibility to encourage all of our employees to bring their human spirit to work. I keep hearing that people are not engaged in their work, that they leave not only their brains at the door but their hearts as well. How can people enjoy their work and perform at their best if they only bring their physical body through the door?

I recently attended the International Spirit at Work Awards Conference in Garrison, New York. Over the past five years, thirty five companies from ten different countries have been honored for demonstrating a long term commitment to spirit at work. These companies recognize the two dimensions of spirit at work: the horizontal dimension of service to others and the environment, and the vertical dimension connecting our self to a higher purpose.

For me, I went away from the International Spirit at Work Awards Conference feeling that, although imagining a bridge between the material and spiritual worlds provides a great analogy, our task is really about integrating these two worlds. We may start out as bridge builders but must then quickly seek out the common ground, expanding these areas of common ground as soon and as far as we can. Philip Hellmich, representing 2006 honoree Search for Common Ground, described powerful examples that provided great inspiration to create the space for compassion, for us to see each other’s humanity, and treat conflict as opportunity. What a great example of spirit at work.

Although people engagement in the work place is considered to be declining, the focus on spirit at work is on the increase. If Particia Aburdene, author of Megatrends 2010, is right, spirituality in business, having quietly blossomed for decades, is an established trend that is about to morph into a mega trend. I plan to be a part of that trend. I believe that we all have a responsibility to inspire our colleagues, our employees, and our clients to bring their human spirit to work, to seek fulfillment in their work, and for us all to reach our full potential.