OMG … There’s spirituality in my workplace

By Judy Joseph McSween

Time Out Specialist – Emotional Intelligence, Conversational Intelligence and Spiritual Intelligence Coach.

Colossians 3:1-25

As usual, we pause, become aware of our breathing. Take a deep breath in for the count of four, exhale to the count of six, inhaling peace and releasing anxiety. Repeat the sequence twice.

In my last column (CN, August 17-23), we reflected on persons who “oozed spirituality”. I defined ‘spirituality’ in Catholic terms, as the way we live out our faith, through prayer, action, sacraments and sacred rhythms, all aimed at deepening our relationship with God.

We touched on the correlation between ‘Emotional Intelligence’—managing our emotions, influencing those of others—and ‘Spiritual Intelligence’. ‘Spiritual Intelligence’ was described as living a life that is fully integrated with our faith, seeking to understand God’s will, and striving to live in accordance with His teachings.

Cindy Wigglesworth defines Spiritual Intelligence as “the ability to act with wisdom and compassion, while maintaining inner and outer peace, regardless of the circumstances.”

Some years ago, I had the privilege of piloting programmes on ‘Spirituality and Introspection in Leadership’ and ‘The Spiritual Workplace’, with diverse MBA cohorts. Together, we non-judgementally explored individual perspectives on spirituality—how they express it, the practices they adopt, and the rituals that nurture their spiritual growth.

What struck me and emphasised the benefits of interreligious dialogue was the universal themes that emerged: a deep drive for Meaning, Purpose, and Connection. The pathway to deepening their spirituality was grounded in Knowing, Being and Doing:

• A thirst for knowledge and purpose—who am I? why am I here?
• There is something greater than I am—experiencing wonder
• Being in good relationship with all that is—building connections
• Pause for introspection and growth in self-knowledge
• Scheduled practices and rituals—asceticism, meditation, chanting, prayer
• Being in community—connected to those on similar path
• Service—acts of selflessness

In the final sessions, we explored: ‘Is there value in integrating spirituality into the workplace?’ Often this conjures up a vision of desks covered with prayer beads, statues of Buddha, various saints and gods, holy books: Bible, Bhagavad Gita, Quran.

In this instance, participants shared that their organisations and those they researched often reflect spiritual principles through:

• Integration of prayer into their meetings and events
• Mindful practices
• Clarity on organisation and departmental purpose and lived values—persons can choose to ground their being and doing with the stated purpose and values, choosing to act from the higher self
• Encouragement of increasing self-knowledge, feedback, psychologically safe environments—non-judgemental conversations that facilitate openness and personal growth
• Decision making aligned with core values—choosing to act from the higher self
• Norms and practices that foster inclusion/building connections and growth
• Team-building activities, sports days—building connections
• Retreats—reflection and building connections
• Active engagement in corporate social responsibility—service and building connections

These practices lead to high staff engagement, retention, and sustained performance —organisation success, in faith-based companies and in the corporate world.

In my Time Out sessions, I see this ripple effect—when individuals fully understand their Purpose, they can align their thoughts, feelings, and actions accordingly. It creates a sense of resonance, connection, belonging, and authentic engagement.

Spirituality is about strengthening connections with self, others, with God.

Contact Judy Joseph McSween to schedule a personal or a group Time Out session to enhance your spiritual emotional intelligence competencies, as you build connections judy@timeoutspecialist.com or Mobile 1-868-684-9827.

Reflection: Consider

• How do you currently express your spirituality in your workspace (office, ministry, sports group etc?)
• What’s going on in your workspace that might be considered akin to expressions of spirituality?
• How are you fostering purpose, connections, and well-being in your workspace?