Coach and mentor Anne Jirsch has noticed a change in her business clients. Over the last ten years they’ve become increasingly spiritual. But, she asks, is this necessarily a good thing?
I’ve worked in the spiritual field for over 35 years, and seen an increasing number of business people coming for a consultation. I am also told such things are often the topic at dinner parties. It is not just the odd person popping in for a lunchtime tarot reading or astrological chart. Spirituality in business is now a huge subject. There is a whole new way of thinking and conducting business.
In his book, ‘Screw Business as Usual,’ Richard Branson talks about his new vision for the future. He said, ‘In the past business has been all about profit. Now the shift is away from capitalism and towards caring for people, communities and the planet.’
He is not alone. Bosses are now looking at work ethics, eco issues and being downright good chaps. The ruthlessness of times gone by is replaced with a kindly attitude. They need to at least be seen to be doing something worthy.
All this is great for the leaders of big companies. It gives them brownie points with the public, their staff and the media, but how does this translate into the everyday business world? How does the average small-to-medium-sized company handle this new found awareness?
Recently, a businessman came to see me and lamented how his business had slowed down dramatically since he’d become ‘spiritual.’ He loves this new aspect of his life but no longer pulls in the deals he would have once easily obtained.
I told him it is something I see regularly. Have no doubt that used properly, a spiritual leaning can greatly enhance your fortunes. In fact studies have shown that people at the top of their game are far more liable to use their intuition than people at the bottom to middle who tend to rely heavily on facts and figures.
American parapsychologist Dr Douglas Dean and John Mihalasky, Industrial Management Engineer at New Jersey Institute of Technology spent over ten years studying the predictive abilities of chief executives and how well their companies performed. They found the exceptionally higher-performing executives had above average “precognitive abilities”.
The problems arise when we are too pressured to listen to our intuition. Fear kicks in and we begin to doubt our own awareness. This gets in the way of listening to gut instinct.
Another problem can come from a very different place. Just because you’re spiritual doesn’t mean you’re going to be completely laid back. Yet some people get into a fl at, passive mindset. This I believe is the biggest problem. I often hear people say, ‘oh well if it is meant to happen it will happen.’ They ‘ask the universe’ to provide for them.
Many years ago I did some motivational work for an insurance company. They were all deeply religious. Their attitude tended to be that god would provide for them. One representative brought in ten times the business of the others. He was also deeply religious, ‘I asked him during a meeting what his secret was. He replied, ‘I believe god gives us the tools and abilities to go out and get the business.’
So, the key is to stop and listen to your gut feelings, to use your awareness and instincts but to also use your own drive and passion to get out there and bring in the business. That way you have a set of tools that will put you ahead of the crowd.
I have many powerful clients from celebrities to movie directors; from heads of industry to even politicians and believe me they will use anything that gives them an edge. Overall they listen to their intuition then take massive action. Now that is a combination not to be messed with. b www.annejirsch.com