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To assist managers in applying a set of intuitively appealing actions that can be helpful in conflict resolution.
Abstract
Purpose
To assist managers in applying a set of intuitively appealing actions that can be helpful in conflict resolution.
Design/methodology/approach
Utilizing a mindful strategy of listening, empathizing, visualizing, considering effects, and liaising with involved parties toward resolving conflicts in a mutually considerate way.
Findings
Leveling with colleagues, especially when in a supervisory position, will demonstrate respect for individual perspectives, and the will to reflect on both sides of a situation before coming to a decision.
Practical implications
Applying LEVEL may take more time than jumping to quick conclusions, but it will enhance employees’ reverence for their leader, as they find that decisions are well-considered, and respectfully communicated.
Originality/value
An intuitively sound way of leading mindfully and respectfully in increasingly complex work environments.
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Keywords
To encourage those who feel victimized by the tendency of “othering” or being part of an “outgroup” in any organization, in perceiving this reality from a more constructive angle.
Abstract
Purpose
To encourage those who feel victimized by the tendency of “othering” or being part of an “outgroup” in any organization, in perceiving this reality from a more constructive angle.
Design/methodology/approach
A reflective viewpoint, supported by observations, conversations, and readings.
Findings
Othering exists, but it is a perspective that we can choose as a source of oppression or growth.
Practical implications
Considering the five ideas in this article can assist readers in becoming more resilient and positive members of their work- and other environments.
Social implications
As more people decide to rethink othering, the ridiculousness of the entire tendency may get deposed, and othering may become an obsolete behavioral pattern.
Originality/value
Presenting five ideas pertaining to performance excellence, making a constructive difference, keeping a mindset of elevating rather than defeating perspectives, maintaining dignity, and moving to new horizons. Through these five ideas, the author proposes a constructive perspective to a trend that is usually considered discriminatory and subjugating.
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The aim of this paper is reaffirming the real purpose of studying, working, and acquiring a decent lifestyle, which is happiness.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is reaffirming the real purpose of studying, working, and acquiring a decent lifestyle, which is happiness.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper includes reflections on workshops with professionals, coaching insights, and literature review.
Findings
Attaining happiness is not necessarily dependent on our employer but on our perception of our work. If our mind is at ease, and our outlook is positive, our work can be joy, and we can tread our personal path of happiness.
Practical implications
May serve as a source of self-reflection to readers and potential reconsideration of the reasons behind their professional performance: while earning money is important to pay the bills and care for our families, we owe it to ourselves to be happy while doing it. Finding contentment in our work is the critical step to enjoying it and, thus, being happy doing it.
Social implications
Individuals who focus on acquiring and maintaining their own happiness will be more likely to also exude positive energy to others, thus elevating the chances of these others to pursue happiness as well.
Originality/value
This is a call for refocusing on the true purpose of all our actions. While it is actually rather simple, we seem to keep losing focus and digress into converting means into ends, while disregarding the real end of all our actions, which is happiness.
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Joan F. Marques, Satinder Dhiman, Svetlana Holt and Adam Wood
Strengthening awareness about the importance of mindfulness practices in business education and performance toward greater societal appreciation and compassion.
Abstract
Purpose
Strengthening awareness about the importance of mindfulness practices in business education and performance toward greater societal appreciation and compassion.
Design/methodology/approach
General Review: A Synthesis of Literature and Practice
Findings
The need to include mindfulness practices is not merely a wave in today’s era, but a well-considered shift that has already proven its advantage to business entities and their leaders.
Practical implications
The examples shared in this article are aimed to ignite interest about ways we can move toward cultivating awareness in making business a practice that is not merely profitable, but also socially constructive.
Originality/value
Four mindfulness enhancing practices are shared for possible implementation
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The purpose of this paper is to challenge current and future organizational managers toward engaging in a process of reflecting on the purpose of their performance and the purpose…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to challenge current and future organizational managers toward engaging in a process of reflecting on the purpose of their performance and the purpose of the organization they serve and also to challenge management educators and coaches to reflect on the emphasis of their training of those who will step into management positions.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper reviews the current criticism on organizational management education and practice, and brings global inequality in the scope to underscore the importance of correcting a flawed system based on a flawed perspective.
Findings
It is critical to change the narrative the authors use for management in organizations from, “organizations exist to maximize the value of their shareholders, and the managers in those organizations need to ensure that this happens” to, “organizations exist to support the communities in which they operate, and managers in those organizations need to ensure that this happens.”
Practical implications
Organizational managers will focus on a more socially acceptable set of priorities when adopting the narrative promoted in this paper. Business educators will focus on more transdisciplinary approaches to help their students think beyond self-centered and sheer profit-based boundaries, and plant seeds toward constructive and morally sound social change early on.
Social implications
Communities will fare much better when the organizations in their areas will focus more on well-being of those who reside in the community rather than a handful of often absent shareholders.
Originality/value
This paper questions the core of organizational existence and managerial performance therein. It reaches beyond technological, operational, and tactical levels of performance and questions the grand strategy of organizational existence and performance.
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Providing workforce members with an understandable and workable platform to successfully withstand professional crossroads.
Abstract
Purpose
Providing workforce members with an understandable and workable platform to successfully withstand professional crossroads.
Design/methodology/approach
A reflective, experience-based deliberation on the emotional and action-based steps to be taken when unanticipated crossroads emerge.
Findings
Crossroads are inevitable and can be heart-wrenching, but if addressed mindfully, they can lead to greater fulfillment.
Practical Implications
Providing workforce members a platform to consider when facing the next professional crossroads.
Originality/value
Crossroads happen to all of us, yet, few articles have been written about this all too common process. Given the frequently recurring nature of this predicament, a practical, compassionate notation could bring relief and encouragement to workforce members.
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The purpose of this paper is to review the phenomenon of moral principles as they have been adopted over time. The paper specifically reviews the Golden Rule, and the subsequently…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review the phenomenon of moral principles as they have been adopted over time. The paper specifically reviews the Golden Rule, and the subsequently formulated Platinum Rule. While the value of both these rules is underscored, the paper also reviews their weaknesses in light of our new millennium awareness of increased globality and ensuing interconnectedness. The paper makes a statement that even moral principles that have been around for centuries, may have to be reevaluated in light of changed circumstances, and conclusively presents “The Spiritual Rule,” a principle that eliminates the risk of excessive arbitrariness, and calls for consideration of all life on earth in every decision we make.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is a conceptual paper, reflecting on two existing principles that influence the way human beings, and therefore managers as well, make their decisions in general. The author first briefly reviews both principles (or “rules”), subsequently analyzes their weaknesses in light of contemporary developments, and ultimately introduces a new principle, the spiritual rule, thereby drawing on supporting statements various researchers and authors with in‐depth consideration of modern days' developments in human interaction.
Findings
When one wants to engage in “good business” in these and future days, one can no longer merely focus on a one‐on‐one perspective, or limit ourselves to the stakes of only two parties. There are greater interests at stake and there are larger groups of people involved in our decisions. Individualism has proven its merit, but so has collectivism. The awareness that is dawning upon us these days is that no extreme is of lasting benefit to all of us. A well‐considered blend of various strategies, resulting from openness to other ways of thinking, is the enlightened behavioral paradigm in and outside of the workplace.
Practical implications
There are many complicated theories out there about how leaders should make their decisions. However, what works best is a simple guideline that can be used in all situations and environments and that is based on the realization that human beings are first and foremost interconnected spiritual entities. This paper addresses this need and identifies the important practical considerations that leaders will need to include in their decisions.
Originality/value
The paper's unique contribution is to offer a moral principle that incorporates the spiritual dimension in every area of decision‐making. The three considerations presented in this paper, reduction of selfish reflections, reduction of unjust assessments of other's wishes, and reduction of harm to the welfare of our planet, are on target with the trends toward global interconnectedness and encourage leaders to consider the value of implementing and maintaining the spiritual rule.
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Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to illustrate spiritual performance from the perspective of a globally operating corporation.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to illustrate spiritual performance from the perspective of a globally operating corporation.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses spirituality at work as its subject‐matter and takes the form of a literature review. The paper approaches the topic by: giving a general overview of the shift in global corporate behavior; a short historical review of American business culture; defining workplace spirituality; examining Starbucks Corporation's performance from three angles: suppliers and societies, employees, and customers; and a conclusion and postscript.
Findings
The paper finds that: spiritual behavior at the organizational level does lead to enhanced corporate performance; workplace spirituality, when encouraged by top management, is oftentimes instigated by personal life experiences; and spiritual behavior, at the organizational level, leads to advantages for multiple stakeholders.
Research limitations/implications
Limitations to the research are that the research findings were of a secondary nature. The information was gathered through massive readings, but not through primary research‐gathering processes. This study only reviews the performance of one major corporate entity, which reduces the justification of generalizability. Suggestions for future research would be: applying primary studies on a broader sample of globally operating entities to measure their spiritual performance; and formulating particular standards for this type of measurement.
Practical implications
The practical implications are that globally operating but also smaller entities may start scrutinizing their performance toward stakeholders in a more spiritual light.
Originality/value
New in this paper is the: viewpoint of the Starbucks corporation as a spiritually performing entity; reflection of this major corporation's behavior in three dimensions: toward employees, customers, and suppliers and societies; and reflection of the elements of the definition used here for spirit at work on Starbucks' performance.
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Keywords
– The purpose of this paper is to underscore the need for wakeful leadership, which is manifested through regular reflection.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to underscore the need for wakeful leadership, which is manifested through regular reflection.
Design/methodology/approach
This briefing is prepared by a leadership scholar/practitioner based on a blend of theory and practice.
Findings
Today’s leadership, whether in a formal or informal setting, and whether with others involved or not, requires reflection to refrain from mindless continuance of obsolete mindsets and behaviors.
Practical implications
The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking aimed at constructively influencing current and future leaders.
Originality/value
A brief but critical emphasis on the urgent need of reflectively leading ourselves, others and our organizations today, considering past and future.
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Keywords
This article is an encouragement to current and future business leaders and members of the corporate world to carefully scrutinize their ethical considerations and actions. It has…
Abstract
Purpose
This article is an encouragement to current and future business leaders and members of the corporate world to carefully scrutinize their ethical considerations and actions. It has become all too easy to find justifications for a hit and run mentality, which is the very foundation for the growing inequality in the world.
Design/methodology/approach
A comparison of data gathered over the course of two years (six courses), captured in responses from workforce members in an MBA program to two moral-based questions.
Findings
The data demonstrated that a consistent percentage (35 percent) seeks to justify selfish, unethical behavior.
Research limitations/implications
The findings are based on a population of workers from a multitude of industries, yet within the same geographic and cultural setting. Even though this population represented a broad variation of ethnicities, the local culture may have influenced their moral views. It would be recommended to ask the two questions listed in this article in other cultures as well in order to compare findings.
Practical implications
While 35 percent is not a majority, it is still a significant number, hence, a good reason for concern, as this is a population of future business leaders.
Originality/value
The message in this article is presented through the acronym KARMA, in which each letter represents the initial of a critical point of consideration: kindness, attitude, responsibility, mindfulness, and actions.
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