Workplace Spirituality

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#pv_diaries #work #job #experience #spirituality

Spirituality - Finding the meaning in the work.

The word 'spirituality', has been highly misunderstood, claim many. I won't claim they are wrong. I will only claim, at the most, that, it is a very relative term, and will mean something different to each of us. And, that is the way, it has to be treated.

In the context of HRM, it is about finding meaning in the work. Seeing something more than 'performance', 'KPIs', 'productivity', 'outputs', 'outcomes' and 'promotions' in the form of the result of the work.

In other words, it is about seeking 'intrinsic reward' of the work, over and above the 'extrinsic reward'. But mere intrinsic reward (job satisfaction) is not good enough, to be happy with what you are doing, in a sustainable manner. 

And that is where workplace spirituality may come into picture. It is about making sure that people find 'meaning' in their jobs. They can feel that they have 'changed someone's life for better', which is not a strict pre-requirement of their job description.

Here are some indicative examples of this phenomenon:
1. A physician shaking hands with an old aged patient, after he recovers and takes a selfie with that patient. The selfie is not important, but that 'smile' on the patient's face will bring the 'spiritual experience' to the physician for a very long time. Collection of such smiles will go a long way in making him a 'good doctor'!

2. A teacher, the same way, will be happy to connect to the smile of the students, when they learn something new, or start their own firms and land in a very good job. Especially if what he/she taught helped student with that achievement, and the student expresses joy for the same, the teacher will be happy to take a 'selfie'!

While there is nothing wrong in being competitive, earning more money, fighting hard for those promotions. None can judge other. But a little bit of spiritual touch will always add that 'finishing touch' to your professional experience and hopefully help you being more productive as well as reduce job related stress.

These are mere personal opinions and should not be viewed as scientific or evidence based inputs.

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