Spirituality in the workplace
One of the biggest myths about spirituality:
“I can’t be spiritual and professional at work”.
This perspective is riddled with assumptions, here’s why:
People fear being spiritual to work because they assume they’ll have to proselytize. They think being spiritual will harm their credibility and reputation.
They falsely believe:
“Spirituality is for the weekends”
“Spirituality will make me lose my edge”
“It’s unprofessional to show up as spiritual”
So they segment their spiritual selves and leave this critical part of their being at the door. This segmentation is self-harm and also incredibly limiting - preventing leaders from accessing divine wisdom and experiencing true professional fulfillment.
Let’s break down these misconceptions:
1/ “Spirituality is for the weekends”
Spirituality isn’t escapism or a retreat from daily challenges. It’s an approach to life, a means of engaging the world in a deeper, more meaningful way. Spirituality draws us into a profound sense of awareness, it’s a lens to experience sacredness in everything we do.
Have you ever wondered why corporate feels so flat and one-dimensional? It’s because we’ve removed all sense of wonder and aliveness from our work. By inviting spirituality into our professional lives, we become fully present in our activities and available to the richness within our experiences.
2/ “Spirituality will make me lose my edge.”
Integrating spirituality doesn’t make you ineffective or unambitious. Rather, spirituality is a journey of self-mastery - a pursuit of excellence, an exploration of living your fullest potential and doing so in a healthy way.
Combining spirituality with rational thinking enhances well-being and decision-making. Science increasingly confirms the benefits of spiritual practices on the brain and overall health. These practices help leaders filter noise, focus on what’s truly important, and encounter challenges with openness, precision, and flow.
3/ “It’s unprofessional to show up as spiritual”
Today’s spiritual leaders aren’t living in seclusion, they’re active members of society, holding senior leadership positions across industries. Successful leaders like Mark Benioff, Jeff Weiner, Phil Jackson, and Rick Rubin publicly attribute their success to solid spiritual foundations.
Note, these leaders aren’t proselytizing.
They’re not convincing people of their beliefs - but they’re not hiding it either. The best way to lead spiritually is to embody your full spiritual power with humility and groundedness. You create a tremendous impact simply through your being and your intention.
When people inquire, these leaders aren’t shy about discussing Spirituality in their lives.
You shouldn’t be either.
The next time you think of spirituality at work, widen your lens.
Spiritual leaders come in all shapes and sizes.
You could be one of them.
