Workplace Spirituality: Successful Mantra for Modern Organization

Journal of Critical Reviews

ISSN- 2394-5125 Vol 7, Issue 6, 2020

Review Article WORKPLACE SPIRITUALITY: SUCCESSFUL MANTRA FOR MODERN ORGANIZATION

Dr.R. Indradevi1

1Professor, VIT Business School, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore.

Received: 06.02.2020 Revised: 13.03.2020 Accepted: 14.04.2020

Abstract Spirituality in the workplace has been widely discussed over the past few decades and is a much disputed field of inquiry that is gaining interest from practitioners and scholars. Previously, workplace was portrayed as a place where task fulfillment goals were of paramount importance. Over time, the definition of workplace has grown to include different geographical and psychological aspects. Nowadays, organizations are suffering from loss of business, strained customer relationships, delayed contracts and employee exits. Spirituality has now become an important tool for dealing with stress related problems and solving business issues. The purpose of this case study is to gain a better understanding of the direction in which this field of study is evolving and to gain a better understanding of the application of spirituality in the workplace and the role of HR in implementation. Keywords: Workplace, Spirituality, Dimensions, Theories, Implementation, Outcome.

INTRODUCTION Alternatively, spirituality in the workplace is about Companies in the 21st century need their workers to bring understanding whatever takes place within an organizational their whole selves to the job − not only their physical presence group. Organizations promoting a spiritual culture recognize and intellect, but also their spirituality. A growing number of that employees have a mind as well as a spirit, seek to find employees in the workplace are seeking an inspiring and meaning and purpose in their work, and wish to connect with meaningful work and not merely the financial gain. There is other employees and be part of community. sufficient (Fourie, M., 2014), evidence that workplace spirituality is responsible for creating a new organizational Now, a spirituality awareness will help us understand better culture in which workers are more contented and achieve the job attitude of workers in the current scenario. Indian better. What's more, employee morale and job satisfaction workers have now found a significant component of levels are improved. The effect is a spiralling upward for the spirituality that expresses consequences about their success in good of the work person and the workforce. the workplace and the ability to make logical decisions and work against ethical issues. Spirituality has been known as a central area of research in the academic world over the past few years, to bring more Swami Vivekananda has rightly said “You have to grow from significance to one's workplace. The rise of organizational inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. spirituality leads to the expectation that there be more to life There is no other teacher but your own soul”. Workplace than mere survival. Ancient management models did not Spirituality is a relatively new, emerging term. There is consider spirituality in the workplace. Likewise, concern about however a recognition at work (Ashmos, D.P. and Duchon, D, the inner life of an employee had no role in organizational 2000), of the advantages of spirituality. Organizations have management. started to learn that promoting spirituality increases loyalty and enhances morality. Spirituality in the workplace is not about coordinated activities. It is not about holiness of spiritual leader. DIMENSIONS OF WORKPLACE SPIRITUALITY

Meaningful Work - Meaning and Purpose of work and enjoy work

Sense of Community: Connection with co-workers, Support for each other and connected with a common purpose

Alignment with Organization Values - Fell connected to Organization's goals, mission and values.

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WORKPLACE SPIRITUALITY: SUCCESSFUL MANTRA FOR MODERN ORGANIZATION

THEORIES ON WORKPLACE SPIRITUALITY and employee through which the employee feels respected, Spiritual Leadership Theory whether on or off his job (Daniel, J.L., and Jardon, R.C., 2015; The theory of spiritual leadership is developed by Fry, L. Ahiauzu, A and Asawo,S.P. 2012). (2003) and Fry, L.W and Matherly, L. (2006) which discusses the implementation process using an intrinsic motivation Research studies in the field of spirituality at workplace have model that incorporates vision, hope, faith and altruistic love. increased significantly in the last two decades. Workplace The need for spiritual leadership is to promote higher levels of spirituality is gradually being recognized as a viable response employee organizational involvement and efficiency, and to various HR challenges. Dealing with the spiritual aspect of enable the team to develop strategically. The theory of work experience, organizations have achieved increased spiritual leadership is the predictor of ethical, spiritual creativity, improved problem solving capability and reduced wellbeing and corporate social responsibility. Ethical and stress level of employees. (Tischler, L et al., 2002). Workplace personal outcomes, (Giacalone, R.A., and Jurkiewicz, C.L., spirituality leads to greater levels of organizational 2003), deliver enhanced productivity, reduced absenteeism identification and rewards satisfaction, higher levels of job and turnover and enhancement in joy, peace, serenity, job satisfaction, enhanced job involvement, honesty, trust, satisfaction and commitment. If the company emphasizes commitment and improved work performance (Duchon, D., spirituality in the workplace through the value centered on and Plowman, D.A. 2005). people, then employee engagement increases with an Today’s modern organizations need highly spirited and organization (Mitroff, I.I., and E.A. Denton, 1999; Giacalone & energetic workers. Swami Vivekananda once said, “Do not Jurkiewicz, 2003; Pfeffer, 2003). spend your energy in talking, but meditate in silence and become a dynamo of spirituality.” Spirituality brings in joy and Social Exchange Theory contentment in the employees which are closely associated to The theory of social exchange is a psychological theory which outstanding performance and organizational success. attempts to explain the "social factors which affect the Employees with workplace spirituality understand that their interaction of the person in a reciprocal relationship. When success and well-being depend on their mutual reliance in a employees are treated favourably by the organization, then collaborative system. Spiritual employees are more creative employees in response will feel obliged to respond in kind, and innovative and develop a more purposeful and convincing through positive attitudes or behaviors, towards the source of organizational values. treatment that may be in the form of increased commitment and citizenship behaviors (Blau, P.M.1964). The social Workplace spirituality is a reality in the business world which exchange theory connects attitudes and dedication to cannot be ignored and the relationship between workplace spirituality through organizational behaviour. spirituality and management has been highlighted everywhere. People with high spirituality come to work with Identity Theory their heart, body and soul which is vital for the success of the Burke, P.J., and Reitzes, D.C. (1991) claimed that there is a employees as well as the organizations. Workplace spirituality connection between workplace spirituality and organizational is seen as a motivation for workers who spend long hours at engagement, according to the psychological process identity work. theory. Commitment moderates the relationship between employee identity and role performance so the relationship is WHY WORKPLACE SPIRITUALITY IN ORGANIZATIONS stronger for the higher-engaged person. Commitment always Person Organization Fit plays the vital role in connecting individual-society There is a strong match between worker values and their relationships. perceptions of the organization’s spiritual values, resulting in person-organization fit. Person Organization fit is regarded as SPIRITUALITY AT WORKPLACE a worker’s perception of oneness with his or her organization Spirituality has become a slogan in modern successful (Ashforth, B.E., and F.Mael, 1989). There is a positive businesses. And companies such as Boing, AT&T, Pizza Hut and relationship between (Kolodinsky, R.W et al., 2008), workplace Deloitte have introduced programs to motivate their spirituality and person-organization fit. Workers with strong employees’ spiritual characteristics (Fry, L. 2003). Workplace person-organization fit are more supportive of them, make Spirituality is a recent phenomenon that is gaining consistent decisions with organizations objectives and are tremendous attention recently in the field of management more involved with the mission of their organizations. science, because now organizations have realized that workers are not only satisfied with materialistic things (money), they Intuition and Creativity want more. The emergence of the spiritual perspective in Neck, C.P., and Milliman, J.F. (1994) identify individual organizations, referring to a shift of business ethics to business creativity and intuition as advantages of working spirituality. spirituality, is linked to the idea that there must be something Spirituality can extend beyond normal boundaries the more to work beyond a pay check: a desire to thrive rather boundaries of consciousness, leading to increased intuition than simply survive. Each human being has both an inner and and creativity (Krishnakumar,S., and Neck, C.P. 2002). an outer existence and the nourishment of inner life will lead Spirituality in the workplace often increases consciousness, to an outer life that is more meaningful and efficient. For the which in turn creates insight, and intuition leading to nourishment of worker’s inner life, they want the work they do creativity. The completeness provided to the employees by to have some meaning in their lives, they want to work in the spiritual enrichment will lead to happiness and satisfaction community, and they want the feeling of love to have an effect which will make employees more creative. In turn, this results on others in the workplace, and all these can only be achieved in higher organizational performance and financial success. by introducing spiritual practices on the job. Honesty and Trust Workplace spirituality has become an important issue, Spiritual organizations are characterized by mutual trust, because of the growing concern for work-life balance and honesty and openness. They aren’t afraid to admit mistakes. insecure environments due to organizational and societal Workplace spirituality plays appositive role in preventing changes. Workplace spirituality needs to be integrated into the fraud and unethical behavior. Mukherjee et al., (2016), stated corporate culture and must be reflected in the organizational that workplace spirituality resulted in an increased honesty policies and procedures. Workplace spirituality is about and trust in an organization. Spirituality let the workers connectedness (Daniel, J.L., 2014). Harrington, W. (2004) sees display a wide range of positive behaviors such as creativity, that spirituality in workplace is about employees having the honesty, courage, morality, confidence, and versatility. It also same sense of purpose and meaning in their work. Spiritual allows effectiveness levels to rise by decreasing erosive transformation is important, not only because of its connection research and enhancing resilience. Indeed, the research with the personal growth of workers, but also because of its literature to date provides some evidence, that spiritual ability to build a psychological relationship between employer individuals in the workplace demonstrate increased honesty

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WORKPLACE SPIRITUALITY: SUCCESSFUL MANTRA FOR MODERN ORGANIZATION and trust within their organizations (Krishnakumar, S., and Some Steps to Establish and Nourish Workplace Spirituality Neck, C.P. 2002). It is noted that from an organizational • Defining the vision and mission clearly that is beneficial perspective leaders are persuaded that incorporating some to the society and not just individuals. form of spirituality into the workplace has many benefits, • Hiring and recruiting people who can better understand including honesty and trust, and ethical behavior for the company’s mission statement and actively work employees. according to the company’s purpose. Hiring people who

are not committed to the organization goals will hinder Personal Fulfilment the overall development of workplace spirituality. Job takes on new meaning and purpose and gives personal fulfilment for one’s lives, when it is seen as a calling, a sacred • Creating an environment of inclusion, diversity in the duty, a service opportunity. Fostering spirituality can make company. Promoting and encouraging diversity of the workers feel complete when they arrive at the job. This thoughts and ideas. will contribute to a high degree of personal satisfaction and • Train employees for self-leadership and self-awareness increased morale. This would also lead to better and to understand their value and self-worth. organizational performance through greater financial • Encouraging employees’ creativity. Being creative success. enables people to become more involved in their tasks and find meaning in their work. Job Involvement Eliminating fear among employees, since spirituality will Employees with a greater sense of workplace spirituality • only flourish in the absence of fear. congruence are the most involved in their jobs. Employees who feel a sense of connection and community with their • Fostering an environment of trust in the workplace organizations, and who perceive meaning and purpose in their where employees can work, learn, and contribute work (Kolodinsky, R.W et al., 2008),, shall find their jobs to be together for a more significant cause. more important and psychologically rewarding. • Implementing meditation and yoga among the employees. Meditation and yoga help people become Organization Frustration more self-aware, eliminate stress and stress-related Employees with high workplace spirituality will have less problems, and improve their overall well-being. friction and frustration at work, because spiritual • Organizing personality development seminars for the organizations are more participative and inclusive in their employees that teaches them to manage their social, decision-making and information sharing. (Kolodinsky et al., personal, and professional lives better. It also helps 2003), Organization with openness and a community them to deal with the negativity around them and be orientation shall further reduce organizational frustration. positive. There is an inverse relationship between the workplace spirituality and organizational frustration. • Knowing each employees individually to create a better work environment, boosting team morale and Organizational Performance productivity. A number of large organizations have established workplace • Encouraging employees to spend time on their families, spirituality for performance excellence. World’s renowned personal lives, health, and so on. Doing so will help them firms such as World Bank, AT&T, Hewlett-Packard, DuPont, find happiness, contentment, and peace of mind in their Ford Motor Company and Apple computers adopted special own lives and at work. programmes to practice spirituality at workplace. Employers need to institutionalize spiritual values and techniques in Workplace spirituality is a relatively new phenomenon which organizational vision, mission and policies and practice for is gaining worldwide popularity. Corporations often improved workforce performance. Employees and managers emphasize spiritual values among their employees in order to are increasingly resorting to different ways of incorporating activate their full potential. Employees also know that their spirituality, wisdom, reflection, inspiration, creativity and work can have value and fulfilment. The bottom line is compassion into their work. spiritual workers create better places to work in, and help businesses ultimately make the world a better environment Organizational Commitment than just giving better performance and profitability. Haryokusum D. (2015), stated a multidimensional relationship Workplace spirituality is the core of everything. When people between the dimensions of workplace spirituality with get busier and their lives become even more work-centered, components of organizational commitment. All the three bringing workplace spirituality is more important than ever. dimensions of workplace spirituality namely meaningful work, sense of community and alignment with organizational values HRM AND SPIRITUALITY has positive effect on affective commitment while the It is nothing new for HR to incorporate spirituality into the dimension inner life has greatest relationship with normative organisations. Currently, many of the things HRM is tackling, and continuous commitment. In a study carried out by Mousa, and has been doing so for many years. There are many of the M and Alas, R (2016), only meaningful work and sense of same things that support spirituality, such as work / life community had a significant correlation with organizational balance, proper employee selection, setting performance goals commitment approaches (affective, continuance and and rewarding people for the work they do. Analysing a normative), whereas organizational values had very weak spiritual organization's characteristics, in each case, HRM is effect on the three approaches of commitment. either the leader in making these things happen, or is the mechanism through which the organization helps workers Organization Citizenship Behaviour recognize their roles and provides the appropriate training to Workplace spirituality is a strong predictor of Organization make things happen. Ultimately, it is HRM that makes the Citizenship Behaviour A significant positive association workplace a supportive work environment, where between workplace spirituality and OCB is predicted by communication is abundant. Farhangi et al. (2006); Fatahi, M. (2007) and Geh,Z.Y.E. (2010). CONCLUSION WAYS TO INCORPORATE WORKPLACE SPIRITUALITY Spirituality in the workplace cannot be portrayed or regarded Creating a spiritual workplace is a long and slow process. It is as the panacea for all organizational problems, or as a the job of the employers to change how things are done to universal solution for the ills of modern management (Gotsis, foster spirituality at work instead of just setting and reaching G. and Kortezi, Z., 2008). Workplace Spirituality assists a targets. person in recognizing their job's meaningfulness and purpose, fostering inner connection through cultivating long-lasting

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