By Shilpi Singh
Spiritual Quotient and HR
‘Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.’ – Aristotle
The evolution of HR is not unknown, from being an administrative role to becoming a strategic partner of businesses. The meaning of ‘Knowing Yourself’ has changed over the decades. What started with IQ (Intelligence Quotient) associated with learning, gathering knowledge and rational thinking, progressed to EQ (Emotional Quotient) which is the ability to be empathetic, understanding and managing ones’ emotions and be in control and now entered SQ (Spiritual Quotient).
We are often asked what is SQ? SQ is acknowledging one’s mortality and thinking of what one could offer humanity. It means living in humility, and understanding that one is only a small part of this vast universe. SQ plays a big role in the time when it is a VUCA (Vulnerable, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) world conveyed this to Prittle Prattle News.
A very simple example of the same is, for HR in an organization the goal can be either of the two: reducing the HR costs or having happy employees in the organization. Ironically, having happy employees leads to the retention of employees which can lead to a reduction in HR costs.
SQ is like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory, developed over the years and it is the role of the HR to train an employee not only on his technical and leadership skills but also skills pertaining to his SQ.
Companies like Future Group have introduced Devdutt Pattanaik as its Chief Belief Officer to draw attention to the value of ‘Belief’ and how this invisible culture ever shapes business decisions. Crompton Greaves has planned on opening yoga rooms in its offices. Similarly, companies have conducted and also sponsored spiritual retreats for their employees. It has gained momentum in companies like Ford, Nike, Boeing, AT&T, Reckitt Benckiser, Wipro, Dabur, Tata Tea, Lotus, Taco Bell, etc.
At Della, the Chairman & Managing Director, Jimmy Mistry prays before starting the day with the belief that the decisions and outcomes of the day would be in alignment with what is best for him and his company as per Almighty. Following his example, the employees have imbibed the same in their daily routine.
HR has to be integrated with the vision and mission of the business in order to ensure that it becomes a part of the culture of the organization. Be it Manpower Planning to Exit Formalities, Hire to Retire, SQ is going to play a major role and the earlier it is put in action, the easier the transition.
Developing SQ has become a corporate mantra irrespective of the industry. Values, Beliefs, Ethics, and Attitudes are given importance not just in vision and mission statements but also carry weightage in the performance management systems of employees.
Tata Group is known for its Ethical Leadership, Values, and Purposes, Adidas is known for its Performance, Passion and Integrity, American Express for Quality, Teamwork, Respect for People. These are a few examples highlighting that values create SQ in their employees.
Another example to show how organizations are trying to improve the SQ of their employees is by playing spiritual or meditative music for 5 minutes on speakers every 3 hours in the organization. The employee can sleep, meditate, or relax at this time. Some organizations have even started conducting yoga sessions for 15-20 mins in the morning once the employee is in the office to help them feel rejuvenated.
At Della, SQ is given a lot of importance. Della’s office in Mumbai is surrounded by natural beauty. Employees are free to work from the lawns that are present in the office. Plants have been potted even in the closed office spaces and in the cafeteria. The windows are also always open to ensure that employees are always connected to nature. It has proved to be naturally therapeutic.
The Lonavala office in Della Resorts has mountains and greenery surrounding it, relaxing the employees, and improving their productivity. Working from Villa Bistro or Parsi Dhaba is the normal work environment for the employees. The natural greens and office environment makes the employee want to stay in the office and not feel like they want to go home. Della has become their second family and not a workplace.
In these times of COVID-19 pandemic, employers have started conducting seminars and workshops on Spirituality, Meditation, How to deal with Stress, and Positive Thinking, etc. A paradigm shift from Work from Office to Work from Anywhere has also taken place which has shown improved productivity and led to a Work-Life Balance. This has in turn improved their mental peace. ‘Me Time’ has also become important in offices to develop the feeling of belongingness towards the organization.
In recent years, a notable increase in research has taken place on the topic of Spiritual Intelligence (SQ). The growth and scope over the last decade demonstrate that SQ represents a fruitful area of interest but there is a dearth of studies on SQ and its relation to employee behavior.
HR has to redesign and redevelop programs taking into consideration the mind, body, and spirit of employees which will create a holistic flourishing of all. This will enhance the quality of employees where they do not come only at work with their bodies and mind but also their heart, creativity, and divine spirit.
