Role of spirituality in management
In management we learn about task orientation, human touch and the middle path.
Where would spirituality stand in management? To elaborate on this, one needs to know which level of spirituality is spoken about. What we often hear from task masters are: It is your job and you must somehow do it It is not my problem so you find a way out I must have the results and not problems Come to me with a solution Meet the targets to consider anything in your favour The humane-oriented boss will work on following beliefs: If the employee is unhappy, he cannot be productive They must be paid reasonable wages and given basic facilities Ascertain circumstances than the capability of person A conducive environment will always lead to positive results Solve problems together with understanding Performance is evaluated on long term assessments Then there are those who follow the middle path and they seem to have a combination of these characteristics. It is difficult to ascertain which system works as there are leaders who are ruthless enough to sack an employee in the first ever encounter on a mere assumption thus creating fear psychosis.
We also see business leaders like Richard Branson saying ‘I look after my employees and they in turn satisfy the customer’ which even shatters the Marketing Principle in Management.
Olav Thon - a Norwegian real estate developer with 450 properties, including 60 hotels, drives a Volkswagen and has only got one pair of skis and one bike. He said “My dream was to study medicine, but if I had become a doctor I probably would not have practiced medicine. I would more likely have built a hospital”.
So these are two leadership styles that do not call for ‘Task Mastering’ which should not be confused to ‘Hard Working’. So can spirituality explain the different management styles and success with evidence as to which style really works?
Corinne McLaughlin, the American author and educator said that values and ethics are surfacing as urgent concerns and this is why some corporates have increased their ‘CSR’ projects. However, when CSR projects are advertised, the purpose becomes futile.
Many corporates have regular motivational programmes conduct- ed by experts. These programmes are worthless if the work environment is not conducive for individuals and groups.
Spiritually goes well with ‘triple bottom line’ and ‘people, planet, profit’ which emphasises the wellbeing of the people and environment before profits.
McLaughlin relates spirituality in line with ‘simply embodying values of honesty, integrity, and good quality work, and treating your co-workers and employees in a responsible, caring way.
Spirituality was first defined as ‘search for the sacred’ but later extended to ‘discovering freedom from worries, anxieties, anger, stress, pain, fear, etc’. Therefore today’s spiritually goes beyond theistic religions. Spiritual leaders are expected to make things work for people experientially.
The western world has already gone into experiential spirituality be they discourses, discussions or meditation while the majority in this part of the world is still indulged in ritualistic and traditional practices.
At a time this piece is being written, many organisations have got the viral flu of being only profit-oriented; spirituality is not considered vital whether they undertake CSR work or offer bonuses based on perceived ‘performances’ in a cosmetic sense.
The problem seems to be in the word ‘spirituality’ which in reality means social wellbeing with ability to face ups and downs. The business principle of Steve Jobs was, ‘In all my business decisions, I wasn’t there’. I don’t think many of businessmen will understand this. This is spirituality.
Spirituality explains the true nature of life, allows creativity and innovativeness than trusting ideologies based on the past. It doesn’t require any rigorous practices such as meditation in caves, treading path of purification, etc.
If employee satisfaction rate is a predominant part of profitability, spirituality could play a significant role for organisations to float leisurely in a ‘Blue Ocean’.
The Blue Ocean theory had challenged the basic marketing principle that ‘perception is reality’. The contrary had been preached by Lord Buddha and Jesus Christ in their core messages which unfortunately many corporates consider as religious!!!
(The writer is a former senior diplomat, Director General - Tourism Authority and currently Senior Lecturer at the Green University Town of the National School of Business Management. He authored a book titled ‘Pointers to Enlightenment’ and conducts spiritual sessions for tourists).