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"Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience. Our problem is that people all over the world have obeyed the dictates of leaders and millions have been killed because of this obedience ... " --Howard Zinn Welcome! This website encourages experiences and thoughts about the idea and practice of spirituality in the workplace. Click on the topic of your interest. NOTE:
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Business Ethics in a Global World: China, India, and Beyond.
March 8-10, 2007, Santa Clara University Campus ASAW Teleconferences. See http://www.spiritatwork.org/events/teleconference.htm for details.
November 6, 2006, 9-10pm ET - James Hunter,
Divine Wisdom at Work: 10 Universal Principles For Enlightened Entrepreneurs
November 13, 2006, 2-3pm ET - Diana Whitney
Appreciative Inquiry
November 27, 2006, 9-10pm ET - Andre Delbecq,
Creator of “Spirituality for Business Leadership” MBA course at Santa Clara University
December 4, 2006, 9-10pm ET - Michael Jones,
Artful Leadership: Awakening the Commons ofThe Imagination The First North American Rabbinic Conference on Judaism and Human Rights
For Rabbis, Cantors, and Rabbinic and Cantorial Students
Sun., Dec. 10 (International Human Rights Day)–Tues., Dec. 12, 2006
Held at the UJA/Federation Conference Facility, New York City
With renowned Jewish scholars and human rights experts from across North America Global Events - It has been said that a single butterfly can cause a tsunami on the other side of the world. Here are some of the far-off events which could affect our world. Listing by the Institute for Global Engagement
See also:
Conference and Retreat Centers
Special Spiritual Programs .... t o Poetry Corner Seven Steps in Getting There From Here  Specific suggestions for spiritual
practices from Chapter 5 "Seven Essential Traits of a Spiritual Person," in Workplace Spirituality: A Complete Guide for Business Leaders
Ó 2006, by Nancy R. Smith,
These suggestions are intended to supplement, not replace, any individual faith disciplines you already practice, such as daily Bible reading, Buddhist meditation, Islamic prayer or Jewish devotional practice. Spend time in quiet reflection, referably daily. Listen to your inner being. Here are some suggestions...
| Unaware of Unresolvable Dilemma?
By Ragini Elizabeth Michaels
Letting go, relaxing, being present and aware come to us through the counter-balancing experiences of holding on, being tense, absent, and unaware. Yet we all strive for the unreachable goal of a positive and pleasurable life without negativity and pain. The idea that there is sustainable success and prosperity without any ebb and flow has blossomed into a cultural belief. | Employee Satisfaction at Risk
by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia
Employee attitudes and behaviors show surprising similarities from one country to another. Trends observed in one country are also seen in other countries around the world....work-life balance and organizational culture are primary issues for employees surveyed. These issues go deeper than just flexibility in the workplace. Employees want more control over their schedules and more involvement in the company decisions that affect them. | America's Employees Cry Out for Spirituality After 9/11
Explore the current employee’s desire for a more spiritual workplace in America after 9/11. How will traditional managers respond to this cultural shift? Daryl and Estraletta Green, of Performance Management & Logistics Associates (PMLA), offer four suggestions for employees desiring a more, purpose-driven life in the workplace. | Half of U.S. Businesses Are Home-Based, Majority of Firms Self-Financed
From the U.S. Census Bureau. Almost half (49 percent) of the nation’s businesses are operated from home, and more than 6-in-10 owners used their own money to start the business. Business owners are highly educated, 3-in-10 are over 55 and 14 percent are veterans, Owners’ income, role and hours vary.
| New Ruling Undermines Economic Security for Workers Says the American Friends Service Committee
10/6/2006. The American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization with a long history of supporting labor rights, deplores the recent ruling by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) which will deny union protection to millions of American workers.
| Profiles in Commitment: Wainwright Bank
From Megatrends 2010: The Rise of Conscious Capitalism, By Patricia Aburdene [Last in a series of excerpts]
Wainwright’s DNA is so deeply encoded with the commitment to social justice, you almost forget it’s a bank, with more than $760 million in assets, that offers commercial loans, home mortgages, lines of credit and private banking. It might also slip your mind that Wainwright makes money, a lot of money and at an impressive rate: Net income in 2004 hit $6.4 million, up from $4.7 million in 2003. Earnings per share rose from 55 cents in 2001 to 94 cents in 2004....And guess what? Community investing is the best-performing sector of Wainwright’s lending portfolio. The default rate? About zero percent.
| Chickens Are Chickens The theological and ecological significance of farming.
| Choosing the Right Compass by Steve Goodier "We pass this way but once," we have heard it said. But my wife has learned that, unless I've studied a map, that isn't necessarily true. | Ten Exercises to Reconnect with Your Spirituality by Dr. William Guillory Specific suggestions from The Living Organization -- Spirituality in the Workplace | Resolving the Faith Work Tension in Christian Professional Practice by Mike McLoughlin Christian Professionals have real problems resolving the faith work tension in their professional practice. They ask, Is faith welcome at work? Is work valuable to God? What do I do when faith conflicts with work? Where is the balance between faith and work? Can faith make a difference at work? How? | Do It Yourself From Megatrends 2010: The Rise of Conscious Capitalism, By Patricia Aburdene Some of us are very independent. We enjoy doing our own investment research;. . . .But how on earth do we wade through the SRI universe and cobble together a customized portfolio? Here are a few simple ideas to get you started. | What Can Workplace Spirituality: A Complete Guide for Business Leaders Do For You?
Excerpt from the Introduction to
Workplace Spirituality: A Complete Guide for Business Leaders by Nancy Smith
You have the power to help make your workplace one that is fulfilling and productive, that reduces turnover, and that encourages new ideas and insights from inspired employees. See how this book will help! | Why I Wrote This Book
Excerpt from the Introduction to
Workplace Spirituality: A Complete Guide for Business Leaders by Nancy Smith
A personal challenge... a concern for spiritual diversity... a need for a book that is complete -- addressing personal spirituality, business ethics, and corporate social responsibility as equally essential to a spiritual workplace.Is This You? Overworked and Disillusioned?
Excerpt from the Introduction to
Workplace Spirituality: A Complete Guide for Business Leaders by Nancy Smith . . . .Are you an overworked and disillusioned worker? Or are you an employer who must deal with dissatisfied and demanding workers like these? The Spiritual Power of Corporate Brands
Excerpt from Megatrends 2010: The Rise of Conscious Capitalism, By Patricia Aburdene
If values are the hallmark of enlightened capitalism, how do the companies that espouse them broadcast their virtues and beckon discriminating consumers to the cash register? Often, it is through the power of brand—that precious, yet intangible asset that symbolizes what a corporation stands for.Enjoying What You Do
By Steve Goodier
No matter where you work, you work for yourself! With a little creativity and imagination, your work can seem less like drudgery and more like play. Motivating Future Success
By Barry Maher
Few things build credibility like doing what's best for someone else rather than grabbing something that appears to be in your own short-term interest. The only thing that could ever stop me from doing business with the mechanic who told me all I needed was a $7 part when I took the car to him for a new transmission was his retirement.Ubiquitous Cell Phones Blocking Relationships
Herman Trend Alert
Interpersonal relationships are at risk. Our on-the-street surveys over the past few days suggest that an amazing proportion of people actually prefer a phone conversation to the opportunity to talk face-to-face with an individual. What does this observation say about people wanting to talk one-to-one with their neighbors? Do you ignore your ringing cell phone or your colleagues? Dilemma of the NEETs
Herman Trend Alert
The current shift in the employment market is exciting and invigorating for some. Others are experiencing frustration, disillusionment, and irritation at the situation. The people caught in the middle, feeling disconnected, are being described as the NEETs---Not in Education, Employment, or Training. Meaning and Values Slipping into First Seat
Herman Trend Alert
Employees are seeking what we might call compensation of a different nature. They want something more for themselves; they want control of their time. They want balance. Not work-life balance, but life-work balance. Life comes first today for more and more people. | Self-awareness Can Be More Important than IQ or Experience in Business Success
By Barbara A. Bissonnette
A growing body of research confirms that well developed emotional intelligence (or what used to be called “people skills”) plays a bigger role in job success than intelligence, technical skill, and experience. In fact, these skills become increasingly important as job complexity increases, and intangibles like “leading and motivating” become key requirements. | Can a Website Change the World?
Shel Horowitz launches Business-Ethics-Pledge.Org to Make Corporate Corruption as Unthinkable as Slavery. . . A new campaign to abolish corporate corruption uses the Internet to leverage massive social change. 
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Practice Active Listening
By Sally Santana
There is one gift you can give many times, every day, and it won’t cost you a cent. It is highly prized. In fact, I’ve been literally moved to tears when I’ve received it. And you’d think that since it’s so inexpensive, I’d give it all the time, but I don’t often think about it. Maybe you don’t either. Focus on the Individual
-from the Herman Trend Alert, February 8, 2006
Job descriptions will disappear. Replacing them will be role descriptions and individualized "Expectations Statements". No longer will we attempt to force square pegs to fit into round holes. People will be hired for attitudes and competencies, then trained to build their skills even further. Their training will match their jobs, giving them confidence and satisfaction. Additional training will support job expansion.
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Pressure As a Factor in Unethical Corporate Behavior
-from research by American Management Association and Human Resource Institute. . . Pressure from management or the Board to meet unrealistic business objectives and deadlines is the leading factor most likely to cause unethical corporate behavior, according to a new survey on business ethics.
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Research on 'Spiritual Capital'
The Spiritual Capital Research Program is interested in supporting high-level, impartial scholarship on the contribution of religion--both for good and for ill--to economic and social developments. The aim of the program is to catalyze the development of this inter-disciplinary research field, which may become a vital new field in the social sciences.
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The Biggest Market You Never Heard Of
Excerpt from Chapter 5 of Megatrends 2010: The Rise of Conscious Capitalism, By Patricia Aburdene
Conscious Consumers are often categorized as “LOHAS” (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) customers. By 2005, 63 million Americans—or 30 percent of the adult population—were part of the LOHAS market, says the Natural Marketing Institute, a market research firm specializing in the LOHAS customer.
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Are Profitability and Spirituality Polar Opposites?
'Soul at Work' Book Says Spirituality Increases Profits
How can a company engender spirituality while also worrying about the bottom line? Can a company use its collective spirituality to boost profits? Margaret Benefiel, PhD, author of Soul at Work (Seabury Books) knows the answers to these questions. A professor at Andover Newton Theological School, Dr. Benefiel urges others to follow a new business model and reap enormous rewards that are more than financial. The Dawn of Conscious Capitalism
Excerpt from Chapter 2 of Megatrends 2010: The Rise of Conscious Capitalism,
By Patricia Aburdene
[Corporate Social Responsibility] CSR firms. . . . worry about stockholders, but they’re also concerned about “stakeholders” like employees, customers, suppliers, communities at home and abroad—and planet Earth. . . . .Many want to do the right thing, of course, but there is a practical reason as well. A reputation for corporate responsibility enhances the company’s brand, while being deemed “socially irresponsible” damages it. The marketplace implications, not surprisingly, are sizable.Money and Morals
Excerpt from Chapter 2 of Megatrends 2010: The Rise of Conscious Capitalism,
By Patricia Aburdene
Most of us, no matter how spiritual we think we are, harbor the belief that old-fashioned capitalists—those who invest to make money with no regard for moral considerations—actually earn the highest returns. In other words, if you want to go in for social justice, prepare to suffer financially. . . .Well, decades of research later, it turns out that theory is just plain wrong. Starbucks - It's All About the Beans
Excerpt from Chapter 2 of Megatrends 2010: The Rise of Conscious Capitalism, By Patricia Aburdene
How many of Starbucks’ 33 million weekly customers realize that the $5.3 billion firm is committed to stakeholders—from coffee growers to partners (employees)—while growing at a breakneck pace that satisfies shareholders? Quality and Quantity of Work
from the Herman Trend Alert, December 27, 2005
Researchers [in the U.K.] surveyed 203,000 workers, a relatively large population group. The poll found that the most satisfied, perhaps unsurprisingly, said they had just the right amount of work. The least satisfied were those with too little, followed by those with too much work . . . .What came out from this study is a movement away from mediocrity. Megatrends 2010: The Rise of Conscious Capitalism, Introduction By Patricia Aburdene
How do corporations achieve the challenging but lucrative goal of continuous innovation? The short answer, the only answer, is through the genius inherent in human consciousness. In fact, there can be no invention in business or technology without human consciousness. What is consciousness? I use the term in the spiritual sense, to mean presence or alertness—the awareness of awareness, the willingness to observe without attachment, the gleam of Spirit that animates humanity. The Power of Spirituality -- From Personal to Organizational Excerpt from Chapter 1 of Megatrends 2010: The Rise of Conscious Capitalism, By Patricia Aburdene
In turbulent times, we look within; 78 percent seek more Spirit. Meditation and yoga soar. Divine Presence spills into business. “Spiritual” CEOs as well as senior executives from Redken and Hewlett-Packard (HP) transform their companies. "I Thought . . . I Was Wrong"
by Linda Delgado
A poem about terrorism. Coaching or Spiritual Direction?
by Nancy R. Smith
Learn the similarities and differences between these two ways of growing toward wholeness. How Corporate Law Inhibits Social Responsibility by Robert Hinkley Many social ills created by corporations stem directly from corporate law. It dawned on me that the law, in its current form, actually inhibits executives and corporations from being socially responsible. So in June 2000 I quit my job and decided to devote the next phase of my life to making people aware of this problem. My goal is to build consensus to change the law so it encourages good corporate citizenship, rather than inhibiting it. Business in the Days of Awe, Step 2: Questions: How to Never Have Anyone Object Ever Again By Mark Silver Customer objections can be painful and intimidating to deal with. And it doesn't have to be about price. It could be about anything: "Do you really know what you are doing?" "Does this thing really work?" "How do I know you'll follow through?" Wish you never had to hear them again? You don't.Business in the Days of Awe, Step 3: Agreement: Why 'Making' a Sale Is Disastrous for Your Business By Mark Silver When you are talking to a prospect who might be interested in buying from you, there always comes that moment in the conversation. You know the moment: when your palms start sweating, and you realize you are going to have to ask 'the question' -- "So, do you wanna buy? Spirituality, Meditative Practices In Business Education (Press release) Bentley College professors become the students during a series of workshops in Fall 2005 and Spring 2006 designed to help them integrate methods such as quiet meditation, reflection, mindfulness, and centering prayer into their courses. Is A Second Katrina on the Way? by Nancy R. Smith In the first Katrina, the invisible poor became visible, at least in New Orleans. We seem to be bringing on a second Katrina in the methods used for the "rebuilding" of New Orleans -- methods that once again victimize the poor. Love for the Poor National Council of Churches Hurricane Katrina will perhaps forever be remembered for having shined an unflattering spotlight on racial and class disparities in the United States. In an effort to help the nation move forward, the National Council of Churches USA is releasing, Love for the Poor: God's Love for the Poor and the Church's Witness to It, a 40-page booklet that seeks to help churches engage more fully in prayer, reflection and shared action on behalf of the poor.Business in the Days of Awe, Step 1: How Nothing Connects You To Your Prospect By Mark Silver The reason sales conversations are so awkward, is because there is an inherent inequality....If you choose to be superior, they will choose to be superior, too. Business in the Days of Awe: Keys to Connection By Mark Silver Emptying yourself is an internal process, and it's best to do it before the conversation....the best thing for them might be to let the sale go. And, the best thing for them might be for them to buy your most expensive, most premium product or service, because that's what they really need. It takes humility to do either. Spiritual Medication by Steve Goodier You may not feel that you are much good at prayer, but how good are you without it? For Every Woman By Nancy R. Smith, copyright 1973 This poem found its way around the world by word of mouth as part of the Women's Movement and the many consciousness-raising groups in existence then. It was of the same timeframe as Ms. Magazine, Marilyn French's The Women's Room and Marlo Thomas' Free to Be album. It is important to understand its context. It has now been "adapted" with credit to Nancy R. Smith but without her permission. Much of the original wording is still intact in the adaptation, which is being sold in poster form. This is the original! Remembering September 11, Patriot Day, 2005 Resources, most from before 2005. Most Americans Liken Job Satisfaction to a Mediocre Date... or a Root Canal Business Wire, August 31, 2005 According to a just-released national poll, 6 in 10 Americans say their jobs are no better than a "so-so" date (no love connection, but the restaurant was great and the meal was free). And some of them might actually prefer a trip to the dentist than to work! Values and Meanings in the Workday Desert by Alice Houghtaling A reflection on some core beliefs of mine about life experience in general and what I think is important. I believe that life is all about “growing, learning, and becoming” on a day to day course, and that most of this learning is done unconsciously.... Sometimes, that “course” is just plain boring, or exhausting, or confusing, or exasperating. Katrina’s Cataclysmic Impact on the Workforce This special Herman Trend Alert is issued in response to the many concerns that will arise in the wake of the hurricane which struck the Gulf Coast of the United States. Labor Value By James Skillen, President, Center for Public Justice How far can work be abstracted from the worker without degrading its meaning? In America and perhaps throughout much of the world, it seems to me, there is a declining sense of how the work that each of us does contributes to a joint human venture, adding to the national and international treasure.... Labor, in other words, has become a job, and jobs, like the goods we purchase at the mall, become a mere means to other ends. The value of a job is measured by what it pays. What does this tell us about the world of labor today? The Myth of Self-Improvement By Ray Dodd Sometimes the quest for self-improvement, rather than making us feel better, leaves us feeling worse. At first exhilarating, as we continue to search for self-improvement, it can increase our stress and feeds the belief we’ve been trying so desperately to get rid of. That awful belief - I Can’t. Labor Day 2005: Taking Labor Day Seriously By Nancy R. Smith Suggestions for reflecting on the significance of Labor Day. | | | | | | | | | |
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For Every Woman
By Nancy R. Smith Call Me a Woman
By Nancy R. Smith May my work be faithful
May my work be honest
May my work be blessed
May my work bless others
May my work bless.
May the wealth and work of the world
Be available to all
And for the exploitation of none.
May managers, employees and shareholders work
Together like fingers on a hand.
From CELTIC BLESSINGS: Prayers for Everyday Life, complied by Ray Simpson |
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