It is a long-standing belief that one’s IQ is the greatest validation of a person’s intelligence. However, as days progressed in the 90’s, a new concept of Emotional Intelligence emerged and changed everyone’s perspective of intelligence. And then came the 2000’s, where the idea of emotional intelligence evolved and gave rise to the new concept – Spiritual Intelligence.
The term of Spiritual Intelligence is mostly credited to Danah Zohar and Ian Marshall based on their book, “SQ: Connecting with Our Spiritual Intelligence.”
Spirituality comes from within and by large it benefits one’s own self. A person who is spiritually conscious is well-aligned with his thoughts and desires and as well as of others. It comes with surety validated by the heart instead of the mind alone and it creates inner meaning and motivation about work, extending inner peace in one’s own self with a natural desire to help others grow, learn, and develop.
Spiritual Quotient helps a person to determine his or her motivations, vision and the overall mission in life. Above all, it gives them a concrete dream, based on which they can design their future action plan to attain these goals
Spiritual intelligence shows how one makes use of their spiritual quotient to live a fulfilling and productive life.
Understanding the difference between IQ, EQ and SQ
- Intelligence Quotient- According to Robert Feldman IQ is ‘the capacity to understand the world, think rationally, and use resources effectively when faced with challenges’. It is simply the measure of a person’s intelligence in comparison to that of others.
- Emotional Quotient – It is the ability to manage one’s emotions rationally and in a positive way. In short it is the ability to recognize, understand and manage our own emotions. In practical terms, this means being aware that emotions can drive our behaviour and impact people (positively and negatively) and learning how to manage those emotions.
- Spiritual Quotient- This concept goes beyond your cognitive and emotional skills. It is living in humility; bearing in mind that you are small part of the vast universe. An understanding of SQ motivates people to balance their work commitments, time with family and inner growth.
Why should Individuals be Spiritually Intelligent in their workplace?
Spiritual Quotient makes an individual more responsible and aware of the problems in the society, surroundings, workplace, country and the larger universe too. It makes one humble and to a great extent reduces selfish intentions. With this intelligence one is thwarted from getting swayed by power, status and money, instead it helps build a holistic approach towards the organization where an employee benefits in more ways than one.
Spiritually intelligent employees reduce the burden on the management to intervene and discipline. A spiritually intelligent employee benefits not only by managing his emotions but also by managing work in the most stable approach ensuring self- motivation.
If organizations can help employees tap in their spiritual quotient, then it helps in building a long lasting and a proactive employee employer relationship and in turn enhances the overall employee wellness in the organization.
How important is to be a Spiritually Intelligent Manager?
Management is an integral part of both current and future organizations. The Managers’ intelligence is a pivotal competency that contributes to the organizational success. Spiritual quotient (SQ) is a type of intelligence that enables managers to make strategic decisions in the current complicated business world. The concept of the spiritual quotient of managers presents a new aspect contributing to organizational and employee benefits, inspiring the two to work seamlessly and achieve success and dignity.
A spiritually intelligent manager derives performance by understanding, supporting and helping the employee tap their inner strengths. They motivate and inspire employees to be the best version of themselves, keeping them ever aligned to the goals of the organization while focussing on employee wellness. It is important now more than ever, in the current scenario of changing paradigms in expectations and competition, as there is undue pressure among the employees in a workplace.
A Manager with the perfect amount of SQ will be able to guide the employees, though all the ups and downs will help sail through the most difficult of times, as we are currently in. They bring the best out of people, leading to a better workplace, in turn reducing micromanagement and creating an environment where humanistic values are uplifted and given importance.
The fact cannot be denied that a manager must have the right blend of emotional and spiritual intelligence to garner to the changing needs and also adhere to the norms of the organization by aligning the employees’ personal mission and vision to that of the organization.
Why should spiritual Intelligence be encouraged?
Today’s workplace is a battle zone with constant fights for market share, visibility, revenues, profitability and talent. As in any war, in the office too, it is the people who invariably get impacted. Pressure to perform amidst workplace and environment challenges affects employee wellness, morale and engagement. Furthermore, this can potentially lead to Stress, dissatisfaction, and ill-health. The question remains as to how we can help reduce the drastic effects caused by the mentioned.
We combat these problems by nurturing awareness arising from the spiritual self, promoting flexibility, resilience, hope, and power of endurance to break ingrained patterns of behaviour that sap our energy. Even though external gratification and motivators act as hindrances to a large extent, the inner change of thought process can assure that there is stability ensuring overall employee wellness, propelling them to perform and contribute despite the changing times and expectations.
How does one develop Spiritual intelligence?
Zohar and Marshall recommend 7 practical steps towards developing a better SQ:
- Become aware of where one is right now. This can be personally, emotionally, or professionally.
- Develop a goal as to what one wants to see themselves becoming.
- Start exploring your deepest wants and motivations
- Discover and dissolve obstacles
- Examine different paths to reach your goal
- Commit to a fixed path
- Remind yourself that even though the fixed path may fail, there are other paths one can discover
How do you know if you are on the right path to SQ?
To begin any process, an in-depth assessment is necessary. One needs to ask themselves where they stand, where they want to go and the gap between the two. The answers to this question will eventually determine the path one will ultimately take.
India Inc has taken significant efforts towards implementing SQ in the workplace. The Future Group – owners of brands like Big Bazaar and Pantaloons – has an in-house chief belief officer. Individual consultants are set up at the organization as Chief Spiritual Officers. Their role is to understand the zeitgeist of the organization and make sure that everyone – specially the C-Suite – is being driven towards the same goals.
Key Outcomes of having Employers and Employees with a High SQ:
- Employers with a high Spiritual Quotient, encourage and motivate employees better
- Employee Engagement becomes a crucial parameter in organizations where SQ is high
- Employees work for satisfaction and to the best of their ability and not just for salaries
- Routines are not mundane they are instead nurturing and fulfilling
- Employer – Employee and Employee – Organizational Goals alignment is better
- Performance levels are higher and traditional methods to measure performance are replaced by Goal- Driven outcomes
- Work-Life Balance improves drastically
- Issues like stress, emotional disturbances, mental pressure etc. are eliminated from the core
- Holistic Well-being is assured and visible
Make life better holistically. Engage Employees with a 360-Degree wellbeing approach:
The novel coronavirus that is causing major interruptions in our lives plays a major role in disrupting employee wellness and happiness. This disruption, coupled with the threat of contracting this potentially deadly virus causes people to experience anxiety, stress, and uncertainty. We are called to redefine our true self and thought processes. This pandemic is one of the biggest hurdles the entire world has had to face which has given rise to employee grievance all over the world. The changing work patterns have put pressure on organizations to pay attention to employee wellness like never before.
It is now a known fact of an increase in employee disturbances and depression because of the Covid crises and even though organizations are taking all the efforts to keep the employees motivated remotely, a void that is not being filled to the brim is evident.
An Employee benefits from Spiritual Quotient by enabling themselves to be motivated and stay strong despite the changing times. A strong spiritually minded person will not only be able to stay grounded and work but also incorporate stability and will power in their lives.
If organizations today develop mechanisms to instil in their workforce the spiritual intelligence, then it is certain that the employees will not only be strengthened to beat the current pandemic but also meet any adversity in the days to come.
Happy Employees make a Happy Organization.
Please visit engageloop.in and help us help you grow in every aspect of what is mentioned here and beyond. Stay Spiritual. Stay Real. Stay Safe.
References
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Hossein, D., Zeyna, R. and Hamideh, R., 2017. Relationship Between Spiritual Quotient and Transformational Leadership of Managers with Organizational Commitment of Staffs: A Case Study in the Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Review of Public Administration and Management, 05(02).
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