Spiritual aspect of work

Indra Suteja, Jakarta

There is a presumption that business is for profit and power, and spirituality is for religions or believers. Many say we cannot or must not merge the two seemingly contradicting things (business and spirituality) at work. To these people, to speak of business and spirituality in the same breath is an oxymoron, that is: "A combination of contradictory or incongruous words" (Webster's Ninth Collegiate Dictionary).

It is pointed out that business is hampered by the lack of a language that accommodates spirituality. By contrast, the language of spirituality exists in the people who make up the corporate board. As Swartz would say, there is a person behind the policeman's uniform, and it is no different with businesspeople.

A recent study carried out at the University of Chicago by Prof. Curtis Verschoor and published in Management Accounting found that companies with a defined corporate commitment to ethical principles do better than companies that do not position ethics as key management components.

What is spirituality at work? There is wide range of perspectives regarding what this means. Some would say that it is simply incorporating the personal values of honesty, integrity and good quality work habits into the corporate culture. Others would say it means treating employees in a responsible and caring manner. Yet others say it is making the organization socially responsible as regards how it impacts on the environment, serves the community or creates social change.

Spiritual values that are widely embraced in business include integrity, honesty, accountability, cooperation, service, intuition, trustworthiness, respect, justice, and service. Perhaps spirituality is not so much "the answer" to the corporate problem, but rather it is a way to prompt an inquiry into problems. It is not a solution. Rather, it is more about the spirit behind work itself. It is a desire within the world of business to have human capital possessed of the right attitudes (spirit) so that people can do their jobs in line with their concerns for physical and mental health.

To make spirituality work effectively in a company, it must be integrated into corporate culture and reflected in organizational policies and practices on a daily basis. This can be done only when the top management gives support and embraces it as a part of their vision.

To make spirituality work as a motivator, we need to remember the word WORK (Worthiness, Orientation, Reliable, and Knowledge). The company, or top level management, should help the workers understand that they are doing something Worthy (value of their work). This can be done by making the employee aware that the value of his work is not limited to monetary ends. Rather through work we share the mission of the Creator in perfecting His creation on earth.

Through work, employees can also improve themselves and others by sharing their abilities, skills and knowledge with one another, and from their experiences in dealing with their co- workers. If the employees are aware of and have full understanding of the reasons for their work, this will eventually lead to a good orientation or direction toward work itself. Having clear directions and goals in life, both top management and employees will make the effort to acquire skills, attitudes and habits that are aligned with personal values and integrated in corporate culture so that both employer and employee will be reliable in doing their daily work. We can achieve all the things stated above through extensive learning and continuous effort in acquiring new knowledge for the advancement of personal growth.

Therefore, spirituality at work is about bringing passion to what you do in the workplace, because from a spiritual perspective, work has a deeper meaning and serves a higher purpose in one's life. It turns out that the workplace is more than just a place of work; rather it is a place where people interact and are treated with dignity and respect.

The question of spirituality at work or in business is connected with the deeper needs of the human heart. Its presence provides a promising remedy to declining job satisfaction. Even if scientific research fails to establish a direct connection between spirituality and profitability, an enlightened business attitude may still have some benefits in creating a more compassionate, caring and ethical working environment where employees are not subjects of exploitation but rather are treated as assets that help the company to grow.

These issues are a challenge for each and every one of us. We need to increase our productivity based on the spiritual values that we bring to the organization. We must be aware of our personal differences and try to align our values and strengths so as to ensure the growth of the organization as a whole.

The writer is a lecturer at the Bina Nusantara School. He can be reached at isuteja@binus-school-jkt.sch.id