The current crisis is not only economic or health; it is more profoundly existential.
We, leaders, managers, like our employees, too often act according to performance conditioning and suffer more and more from being disconnected from reality, cut off from the essential. We see that materialism, consumerism, the financialization of the world are proving unfit to feed human beings in all of their dimensions. The crisis is accelerating this reality and we measure on a daily basis the urgency of making profound changes in the way of mobilizing our communities and bringing our organizations to life.
Today, we call, with the realism and pragmatism that characterize our visions of entrepreneurs, to take into account the spiritual dimension of the human being as a determining element of our organizations and their collective intelligence. Those who fail to do so risk falling fundamentally out of step with the aspirations of employees, market developments and societal expectations, threatening ultimately their survival. With this crisis, a new world aspires to be born; we have a responsibility to be committed and enlightened actors.
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By spirituality, we mean this intimate and fundamental need of Man to connect to an inner or transcendent source which invigorates him, inspires him and gives him the strength to act responsibly, with essential respect for others. and living. If it is clear that the religions, within which the various modes of prayer know a renewed interest, remain a major vector of spirituality, this one is not however reduced to it and today takes personal forms. and diversified.
The spiritual dimension is inexorably gaining ground in the field of business: the evolution of motivations, reflection on the meaning of work, ethics, ecology, CSR, purpose (PACTE law), etc., are some of the plural markers of this dynamic. Through the six signatory networks of this call, there are hundreds of leaders and managers who affirm the importance of spirituality in their professional commitment (1):
Spirituality is already present but invisibly in the company.
Yet considered essential, very important or important in their professional life (86%), 54% of people rarely or never talk about it in the context of work.
It takes various forms : meditation (64%), personal development (65%), ecology (53%), solidarity (46%), prayer (37%), etc., often through couples: meditation-ecology (39%), meditation – bodily practice (34%), religion-prayer (24%), etc.
In the face of crises, it is a very important resource (74%) strengthening the quality of life at work, especially through relationships with others and management (49%), the meaning of work (45%) and strategic vision (42%). Christian entrepreneurs and leaders say that their faith “supports” them (97%) and that it “helps them to review the actions taken in the company” (82%).
Spirituality in business is called to develop : 42% think that it should take a more important place, and 25% that it is one of the future driving forces.
Thus, spirituality is a powerful breeding ground for well-being, commitment, cohesion, innovation and economic and social wealth, which it would be ill-advised to neglect. Based on our observations, we, leaders, managers, seekers of meaning, affirm that:
The magnitude of the current crises calls us to better assume spirituality in the work, respecting the sensitivity of each;
– This is a source of discernment, inspiration, commitment and hope which contributes to the sustainable development of companies;
– Ignorance of this source exposes the various collaborators to a higher risk of existential tension or even exhaustion;
– Leaders have the responsibility to create the framework conducive to releasing the richness and creativity that spirituality brings.
We therefore invite companies and their leaders, at the forefront of economic, social and ecological transformations, to dare a spiritual leadership that would be a powerful response to the expectations of their employees and the challenges of our time, in order to that the inner wealth of each can feed an economy of the common good.
(1) The signatories are
Marianne de BoisredonHead of Fondacio France
Tanguy ChatelPresident of the Forum104
Romain CristofiniPresident of the Community of Enlightened Leaders
Jacques HuybrechtsFounding Director of Entrepreneurs d’Avenir
Marie RegnaultCo-President of the HEC Alumni Spirituality Club
Philip RoyerPresident of Christian Entrepreneurs and Leaders
Here is the link that allows you to register for the evening organized on June 22 (7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.) to discuss the call:Dare spirituality in the company: join the call of our collective!
Leaders, managers, entrepreneurs: let’s dare spirituality at work!