Marketplace Matters
Spirituality and the Work Place
Premise
Spirituality can create a corporate/community culture in which work and meaning are better integrated. This, in turn, can improve the consciousness of what we are doing in the workplace, why we are doing it, how we are doing it, and ultimately, who we are/trying to become.
Spirituality can help individuals/groups within the work place to gain access to greater focus, sharper vision, improved energy and renewed sense of purpose.
A Salesian Perspective
St. Francis de Sales did not see a chasm separating secular life from the sacred. Rather, as a Christian Humanist, he saw the workplace as an important forum in which spirituality gets worked out. "It is an error to try to banish the devout life from the regiment of soldiers, the shop of the mechanic, the court of princes, or the home of married people."
Recall that devotion is not so much withdrawing from the world or holding that which is human in contempt: quite the contrary. Devotion is simply the practice of doing what is right "diligently, frequently, and readily…with alacrity and cheerfulness."
Who wouldn't want to work with people like this everyday? Folks who are cheerful energetic and enthusiastic, doing even the most routine things with a positive approach and attitude?
The workplace is not considered somehow "out of bounds" for spirituality. St. Francis de Sales claimed that doing what is right with enthusiasm and joy actually enhances the work environment: "True devotion does no injury to any vocation or employment; on the contrary, it adorns and beautifies it." He continued: "Every vocation becomes more agreeable when united with devotion. The care of the family is rendered more peaceable, the love of husband or wife more sincere, the service of the prince more faithful, and every type of employment more pleasant and agreeable."
Who doesn't want a workplace that is more pleasant, productive and agreeable?
In sum, the practice of spirituality "must be exercised in different ways by the gentleman, the workman, the servant, the prince, the widow, the maid, and the married person…it must be adapted to the strength, the employment and the duties of each person" in ways that fit the state and stage of life in which they find themselves.
(St. Francis de Sales. Introduction to the Devout Life, 1609)
Spirituality Defined
"Overall, spirituality refers to one's fundamental religious orientation to others, work, recreation, society and nature."
(Dreyer, Elizabeth. Earth Crammed with Heaven. New Jersey: Paulist Press, 1994. Page 8)
"A serious, long-term, disciplined attempt to align oneself and one's environment with transcendental reality, with the ultimate meaning of existence, the holy, the divine, in a word, with God."
(Pierce, Gregory. Disciplines for a Spirituality of Work.
Origins, January 29, 1999)
It is a way of understanding, imagining and making decisions about one's entire life based on what one ultimately believes gives meaning and integrity to life.
Work/Labor Defined
"All the (paid and unpaid) effort we exert to make the world a little better place."
(Pierce, Gregory. Disciplines for a Spirituality of Work.
Origins, January 29, 1999)
Two Requirements for Spiritual Practices in the Work Place
1. These can be done in the work place without disrupting the flow of work
2. These are things that most folks would be comfortable doing
The Payoff?
Spirituality can actually enhance the work, product and mission effectiveness of any organization. It can help:
1. Attract quality personnel
2. Retain quality personnel
3. Get more from/give more to quality personnel
Five Spiritual Disciplines in the Work Place that People can Practice
(Pierce, Gregory. Disciplines for a Spirituality of Work. Origins, January 29, 1999)
1. "Sacred Objects"
Place things in your office/work space that remind you of that which matters most to you. Photos of family, friends; some achievement; inspirational/motivational saying, pictures, posters, etc.
"Wheresoever we are, we can and should aspire to a perfect life." - St. Francis de Sales
2. "Living with Imperfection"
Realize that you make mistakes. You can't do everything on your own. You won't always get it right. Keep things in perspective.
"We must suffer our imperfections if we ourselves are to be perfected." - St. Francis de Sales
3. "Assuring Quality"
Know your limits, but don't limit your knowledge. Strive to do your very best at every given moment. Don't allow mistakes to become excuses for lowering standards or expectations: learn from them.
"Every moment presents us with opportunities to do little things with excellence." - St. Francis de Sales
4. "Giving Thanks and Congratulations"
Recognize others' work. Appreciate the contributions that they make to you and to the organization. Congratulate success. Ritualize these individual and group achievements in big ways; make focusing on the positive part of the ritual of everyday interaction.
"We all have equally the fullness of divine love but these full measures
will be unequal in perfection." - St. Francis de Sales
5. "Deciding What is Enough"
Remain focused. Don't try to 'do it all.' Choose what is really important and stick with it. Remember: that which is most pressing is not always that which is most important.
"We must willingly leave some work for others, and not seek to have all the crowns." - St. Francis de Sales
Nine Spiritual Principles for a Humane Workplace
(William Bryan, SJ, in Origins, August 13, 1998)
· Available to persons of all religions or no religion
· Anyone can practice them
· All nine can help increase the attractiveness of an employment environment
· All nine can account for increased retention, reliability and dependability of quality employees
1. Love
This is an attitude and action that recognizes that I am part of something larger than myself. Something larger than myself is part of what makes me who I am. It leads to the practice of service and sacrifice.
"We must do all through love and nothing through fear." - St. Francis de Sales
2. Joy
An inner assurance that what I am doing furthers my deepest values.
"Nothing can deprive joy from one whose heart is perfectly free." - St. Francis de Sales
3. Peace
Tranquility. I retain emotional balance and can agree to disagree with others. I am not threatened by differing opinions or approaches. I respond to challenge, and strive not to react.
"The one who can preserve gentleness amid pains and peace amid the worry and multitudes of daily life is almost perfect." -
St. Francis de Sales
4. Patience
I am able to suffer, to bear with. It is much more than 'putting up' with something. I am able to deal with life on life's terms. I am willing to see something through in the face of challenges, obstacles and setbacks.
"We perform our actions quickly enough when we perform them well." - St. Francis de Sales
5. Kindness
I respect others in every circumstance of life. I practice courtesy and courageous attentiveness in my relationships with others.
"One kind word wins more willing service than 100 harsh orders or reproofs." - St. Francis de Sales
6. Generosity
I display largeness of soul. It is the opposite of all that is small, closed, petty, ungiving and unforgiving.
"You lose nothing by living generously, nobly, courteously and with a royal, just and reasonable heart." -
St. Francis de Sales
7. Faithfulness
I am dependable and reliable. I keep my promises. I keep my commitments.
"Take care to serve others well in great and important things and in things small and unimportant." -
St. Francis de Sales
8. Gentleness
I am self-possessed. I practice quiet control of myself. I practice proportionality: in any given situation, I strive to neither overreact or under react.
"Nothing is so strong as gentleness; nothing is so gentle as real strength." -
St. Francis de Sales
9. Self-Disciplined
I am a person of integrity. I bring all of who I am to any undertaking. I know when to say "yes," when to say "no," when to say "maybe."
"Don't sow your desires in someone else's garden; just cultivate your own as best you can."
- St. Francis de Sales
10. Humility
I live in the truth of who I am. I allow others to live in the truth of who they are.
"If we really knew ourselves well, instead of being astonished at finding ourselves on the ground, we should marvel at how we remain to remain upright at all."
- St. Francis de Sales
For more information about "Finding God on the Job," contact Gregory Pierce at gfapierce@aol.com.
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