Entrepreneurship and Spirituality: Integration of Spirituality into the Workplace

Abstract

This qualitative exploratory study is based on interviews with 35 entrepreneurs on spirituality and work. Specific questions included (1) What visible actions and behaviors do entrepreneurs employ to espouse spirituality in their organizations, especially with employees, suppliers and customers? (2) How do entrepreneurs define spirituality at work? (3) How do entrepreneurs integrate personal spiritual values into their organization's culture? Information from the interviews was organized using Atlas.ti software, resulting in an interesting conceptual framework of spirituality at work.All entrepreneurs who embraced spirituality found a way to integrate it into relationships with their employees, customers and suppliers. Spiritual entrepreneurs appear to make a conscious effort to develop actions and initiatives to bring spirituality to those people and communities with whom they work. Entrepreneurs with religious beliefs were slightly less likely than others to say they bring personal spirituality to the workplace. This paper provides numerous examples of spiritually based behaviors.