INTRODUCING SPIRITUALITY

Spirituality in organizations is currently a particularly salient issue in both the scientific and practitioner literature. The “S” factor (Klenke, 2003) has lead to a proliferation of books, special issues of journals, edited volumes, symposia at conferences, and popular press articles which collectively represents a struggle between science and marketing for the soul. Conlin (1999) concluded that “a spiritual revival is sweeping corporate America as executives of all stripes are mixing mysticism into their management, importing into office corridors the lessons usually doled out in churches, temples, and mosques” (p. 150). Recent scandals involving ethical lapses at major U.S. corporations and institutions have only served to reinforce the need for organizations to acknowledge employees' thirst for meaning, community, and connection with a higher purpose and/or power. As a result, tapping into the human spirit at work has become a flourishing business as companies are willing to invest money to sponsor seminars, workshops and retreats on spiritual growth, mediation, creativity, and authentic communication.