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Workplace Workplace Spirituality: Spirituality:
An Issue for Learning and An Issue for Learning and Quality Quality
of Work Lifeof Work Life Kim Nimon Van VanBebberJeff Allen
University of North Texas University of North Texas
Why this Topic?
95% of Americans believe in God or auniversal spirit (Gallup poll)
Spirituality - 2nd most important factor in personal satisfaction (USA Weekend poll)
Spirited workplaces outperform spiritually weak companies (Harvard Business School)
Historical Review Spirituality is central to almost every
human culture from ancient to modern
Industrial revolution stripped away much of what makes us human
Human relations era recognized the cognitive contributions of a worker
Spiritual element is an emerging field that offers great promise in human performance
A Living Example Note the various elements of the human
person Physical Able to make and use tools
to build and create
Cognitive Able to think, solve problems and find improved ways to build and create
Spiritual Able to connect with others with a desire to build and create
something better
What is it?
Deeply held values that guide life and work practices (Butts, 1999)
What is it?
Recognition that employees have an inner life that nourishes and is nourished by meaningful work that take place in the context of community (Ashmos & Duchon, 2000)
What is it? Framework of organizational
values evidenced in the culture that promotes employee’s experience of transcendence through the work process, facilitating their sense of being connected to others in way that provides feelings of completeness and joy (Giacalone & Jurkiewicz, 2003)
Common Themes Transcendence - belonging
to something larger than oneself
Holism - harmony, balance , and connectedness
Growth - self development, self actualization
Cases and Examples
Challenges Spirituality is an individual trait
Potential for exploitation rather than growth
Recognizing spirituality is part of a system
Can spirituality and religion be kept separate?
Conclusion Spiritual intervention is not a
matter of introducing spirituality to the work place – it is already there.
Rather, it is a matter of recognizing and nurturing the human spirit for the mutual benefit of the individual, the work group, and the organization.
Workplace Workplace Spirituality: Spirituality:
An Issue for Learning and An Issue for Learning and Quality Quality
of Work Lifeof Work LifeKim Nimon [email protected]
Jeff Allen [email protected]
University of North Texas University of North Texas
