Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 1:01am
How to grow spiritually in the workplace
Column: PERFECTBALANCELIFE
American salaried workers spend the most hours per week in the workplace when compared to all other industrialized nations. In America 10 percent of workers are excited about their work, 30 percent tolerate their work, and 60 percent are in hell — wanting to be some other place. If you are someone who tolerates their work or feels like you are in hell every day, what can you do differently to ensure that you experience a healthy and vibrant spirituality while at work? This is a very important question to answer. How do you know if you are growing spiritually at your workplace? What can you do to allow the workplace to be an extension of your spirituality?
Close friendships in the workplace are very important. I think you need at least two people in your work environment who share an implicit trust with you. These individuals are willing to speak honestly and openly with you about your strengths and weaknesses, and you are able to do the same for them. Ideally, your immediate supervisor is one of the people you can trust. The Gallup Organization, after interviewing a large sample of managers and employees, found that the single biggest factor to predict employee productivity is the individual's relationship with their immediate supervisor.
The following key factors were identified in this survey:
— Whether or not the person felt cared for by a supervisor or someone else at work.
— Did the worker receive praise or recognition during the past seven days.
— If there is someone at work who regularly encourages their growth and development.
Personal relationships appear to be a vital component when it comes to workplace satisfaction, productivity and effectiveness. The way that we go about creating supportive relationships at work is crucial. If we want to grow spiritually in the workplace, it is necessary to establish healthy interactions with others. Tom Rath, author of the book "Vital Friends," in his chapter on building friendships at work reports: If your manager essentially ignores you, the odds of you being engaged at work are an abysmal 1 in 50. Creating a meaningful and positive working relationship with your immediate boss has a huge impact on how you feel at work about yourself and others.
Here are some questions to ask yourself that can help you determine whether or not you are growing spiritually at work:
— What kind of personal relationship do you have with your immediate boss?
— Do you have at least two people in the workplace with whom you can be completely honest and open, and vice versa?
— Does the company culture promote establishing meaningful and supportive relationships with other people across departments?
— Are you in a field or industry that allows you to tap into your innate gifts most of the time?
— If you are in a senior leadership position at work, do you know if you are getting honest and open feedback from other members of the executive team?
— Do you have a philosophy of life that allows you to face workplace challenges with hopeful expectation for positive outcomes?
In answering these questions honestly and candidly, you will be able to accelerate your spiritual growth in the workplace environment. To have a perfectly balanced life, it is crucial that you allow your work environment to support your spiritual journey, rather than negatively interfering with it. Close, honest and authentic relationships at work are key components to consider as you seek to allow the workplace to support and nurture your spirituality.
Never lose hope. Cultivate the attitude of positive expectation for outcomes in all circumstances you face in the workplace environment. Develop real and genuine relationships with your coworkers. Practice these attitudes and incorporate these principles into your workday, and you will be able to walk the spiritual path at work.
— — —
Jack LaValley is a practitioner of the martial arts, physical cultivation exercises, and sitting meditation. Although currently working in the hospitality industry, he spends much of his free time helping and working together with those who are pursuing the spiritual path. Jack and his wife, Wha-ja Oh-LaValley, a native of South Korea, reside in Westchester County, New York, and are the proud parents of three beautiful children. Jack is completing his book manuscript, "A Perfectly Balanced Life: Living Each Day with Wisdom and Strength," and expects publication to be in October 2008. You can reach Jack at: {email jacklavalley@optonline.net}jacklavalley@optonline.net{/email}. © Copyright 2008 by Jack LaValley.
Close friendships in the workplace are very important. I think you need at least two people in your work environment who share an implicit trust with you. These individuals are willing to speak honestly and openly with you about your strengths and weaknesses, and you are able to do the same for them. Ideally, your immediate supervisor is one of the people you can trust. The Gallup Organization, after interviewing a large sample of managers and employees, found that the single biggest factor to predict employee productivity is the individual's relationship with their immediate supervisor.
The following key factors were identified in this survey:
— Whether or not the person felt cared for by a supervisor or someone else at work.
— Did the worker receive praise or recognition during the past seven days.
— If there is someone at work who regularly encourages their growth and development.
Personal relationships appear to be a vital component when it comes to workplace satisfaction, productivity and effectiveness. The way that we go about creating supportive relationships at work is crucial. If we want to grow spiritually in the workplace, it is necessary to establish healthy interactions with others. Tom Rath, author of the book "Vital Friends," in his chapter on building friendships at work reports: If your manager essentially ignores you, the odds of you being engaged at work are an abysmal 1 in 50. Creating a meaningful and positive working relationship with your immediate boss has a huge impact on how you feel at work about yourself and others.
Here are some questions to ask yourself that can help you determine whether or not you are growing spiritually at work:
— What kind of personal relationship do you have with your immediate boss?
— Do you have at least two people in the workplace with whom you can be completely honest and open, and vice versa?
— Does the company culture promote establishing meaningful and supportive relationships with other people across departments?
— Are you in a field or industry that allows you to tap into your innate gifts most of the time?
— If you are in a senior leadership position at work, do you know if you are getting honest and open feedback from other members of the executive team?
— Do you have a philosophy of life that allows you to face workplace challenges with hopeful expectation for positive outcomes?
In answering these questions honestly and candidly, you will be able to accelerate your spiritual growth in the workplace environment. To have a perfectly balanced life, it is crucial that you allow your work environment to support your spiritual journey, rather than negatively interfering with it. Close, honest and authentic relationships at work are key components to consider as you seek to allow the workplace to support and nurture your spirituality.
Never lose hope. Cultivate the attitude of positive expectation for outcomes in all circumstances you face in the workplace environment. Develop real and genuine relationships with your coworkers. Practice these attitudes and incorporate these principles into your workday, and you will be able to walk the spiritual path at work.
— — —
Jack LaValley is a practitioner of the martial arts, physical cultivation exercises, and sitting meditation. Although currently working in the hospitality industry, he spends much of his free time helping and working together with those who are pursuing the spiritual path. Jack and his wife, Wha-ja Oh-LaValley, a native of South Korea, reside in Westchester County, New York, and are the proud parents of three beautiful children. Jack is completing his book manuscript, "A Perfectly Balanced Life: Living Each Day with Wisdom and Strength," and expects publication to be in October 2008. You can reach Jack at: {email jacklavalley@optonline.net}jacklavalley@optonline.net{/email}. © Copyright 2008 by Jack LaValley.