Aggression, competition and crunching numbers are usually the elements that come to mind when we think of a corporate working environment. Many corporations strongly believe that without feelings of competition, a business cannot be successful. This becomes the foundation for all businesses and they continue to follow the rules that are based on such contracted awareness. But others are rewiring the traditional rules of running a business. They are using new, innovative ways of marketing and selling, so why not bring a holistic approach as well? Some of your employees might not warm to the idea of new rules being implemented to the business because they may find it too challenging, for example. If you’re introducing new rules, it may be a good idea to have a look for signs your employee is going to quit so you can reconsider some rules to avoid a high-employee turnover.
Here are my suggestions to the CEOs and head honchos for running an effective and compassionate business:
1. The idea of positive intention
Intention is the fuel that generates your actions. A positive intention will create a positive action. If your action seems positive but your intention is not, then the long-term results are not positive. Many corporations today suffer from the problem of negative and manipulated intentions. Before a meeting happens, the intentions of both parties are so self-oriented that the outcomes of such collaborations are tragic. Stay focused to create a clear goal backed by a positive intention and you will add prosperity to the global economy.
The action step: Every morning all employees, including the top management, should create a positive intention that creates harmony not only in the team but also uplifts the overall consciousness of the workplace. Slowly, you will realize that you are able to shift the workforce dynamic based simply on positive intentions. These lists of intentions should be shared and seen on an open online space by the company. Write on a company office board that solely focuses on creating positive intentions with tons of people supporting that intent. This idea can work wonders to raise consciousness and nurture harmony.
2. The gap of titles
If you analyze carefully, happiness in a corporation varies based on the rank of the team. The CEO is happy about making a couple of million dollars in business while a middle management employee is happy to get a one percent share in it. The employee at a lower level is just happy to leave at 5 pm for the day. This is just an example of how the happiness varies in an average corporation. There’s no denying that happiness could also take a U-turn when employees feel they are being treated unfairly. Human resources team of the company can work along with the top management to create various fun ways of engaging the employees in the same environment as the top management.
The action step: CEOs should look at employees as human beings and not just as human doings. Deadlines and goals are important, but they can be completed in fun ways too. Software programs allow chats within the working environment and CEOs can also partake in such chats at times. Another interesting way would be to have the CEO work in the same area where other employees work, even if it is just once a month. This could create a possibility of open communications in the entire team.
3. The right Karma
Karma means right action with right intention. At times, companies have to engage in ways that are not so karmic. Believe it or not, even if no one has seen you doing a wrong action, the energy of your action will speak loudly. Sooner or later, the response of your karma starts to manifest. Business involves taking risk; but that risk doesn’t have to be taken by adopting the wrong means. Mahatama Gandhi puts it the right way, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” Whatever you do, ask yourself: “Is it creating the right benefit in the right way?” If it involves something that makes you feel guilty, take corrective measures immediately. When you are open to accepting your mistakes, the existence also unfolds to forgive you and possibly create ways to give you a higher purpose.
The action step: Top management should take some initiative to create steps that shape the company in a better way. There should be a clear and easy-to-understand policy regarding actions that are socially responsible. A good way would be to give everyone in the company full freedom in sharing what each person understands by right karma in the corporation. The creative responses from the company employees will surely help to move in right direction.
4. The power of meditation
Never underestimate the power of your consciousness. Collective consciousness is so strong that it can restructure any entity. Many companies today give importance to meditating at the workplace. Meditation helps you to connect with your inner self, which is otherwise distracted in work, family and other day-to-day worries. If you have 100 employees and all of them are just running here and there with no focus on work, then of course there will be no productivity. On the other hand, if all those 100 employees get together to work on a single goal, then it will get done in no time. Meditation works by the same rule. It brings together all your energies, which are otherwise running here and there aimlessly and allows them to work for a higher intention.
The action step: Don’t think meditation will add more to your expenses. All you need is a space where few people can sit for a few minutes. In the beginning, you can have a qualified teacher come in and explain the meditation techniques. Later on, the employees can build a habit of sitting every day for just a few minutes to kick the distractions and be mindful. An encouraging practice would be to have all the employees and top management sit together to meditate for half an hour and discuss the experiences.
Chandresh Bhardwaj is the founder of the self-realization center – Break The Norms Movement, and has launched Uncensored Spirituality Foundation. Bhardwaj is one of the youngest inspirational new age teachers and the seventh generation spiritual guide pursuing initiatives in the eastern science of healing and transformation. He conducts public talks and workshops. He is a published writer and promotes spiritual dialogue in meditation, repressed emotions, and Tantra. www.cbmeditates.com
