Does the word “spirituality” scare the business world?
Some consultant friends tell me that the word spirituality still frightens organizations. Should we, however, fear this feeling of being connected to oneself, to others, or even to a larger dimension, to the universe? If the term is unsettling, perhaps it is misunderstood. Let's call it something else: interconnection, inner coherence, expanded consciousness. But let us not give up on what it designates.
What is spirituality?
Spirituality, as I understand it, is not an abstract conceptIt is a way of being, a way of acting, a relationship with the world. It helps us find our place – whether in the private or professional sphere – because our deep personality does not change according to context.
The image of the painting of Jacob's Ladder painted by Chagall comes to mind: a descent into oneself, into one's emotions and thoughts, connected to a source of inspiration, creativity, intuition – a source that guides us towards our legitimacy.
As opposed to religion, which is collective and moral in nature, spirituality is personal, ethical, interiorIt does not require adherence to a faith. It is enough to connect with oneself and with what surrounds us to perceive where we are on our path.
Spirituality and Business
In business, we don't talk about spirituality... but about strategic vision, of founding values, of reason for being. Inspiring leaders do not claim a religious affiliation; but their vision is anchored in a broader awareness of their role, their responsibility, their impact.
Today, in an unstable, fragmented, uncertain world, spirituality must invest in the field of management. An organization cannot survive without give meaning to what it is, to what it does, to what it offers to its employees and its customers.
Without this awareness, teams lose their motivation, their momentum, their sense of contribution. And a company, like an individual, collapses when she no longer knows why she acts.
A new type of intelligence for a new leadership
Over the past few decades, our understanding of forms of intelligence has evolved:
Of IQ (intelligence quotient), long valued in schools,
At QE (emotional quotient), highlighted by Daniel Goleman in 1996,
Then to the QS (spiritual quotient), introduced by Danah Zohar in 2000.
While computers have a form of IQ, and animals have emotional intelligence, only humans develop spiritual intelligenceIt is not limited to religion; it touches on:
Self-awareness,
Idealism and values,
Courage, resilience, intuition,
Listening, curiosity, the ability to give meaning.
This intelligence is there essential for inspired and inspiring leadership.
Integrating Spirituality into Leadership
Leading means planning, organizing, managing, and evaluating. It also means making decisions that are often complex and sometimes solitary. Each decision impacts not only the results, but also the culture and human balance of the organization.
This is where spiritual intelligence becomes central. It not only allows you to discern the right decision, but above all toalign the decision with the organization's values, and to facilitate its membership.
An inspired leader doesn't just act on indicators: he listens, he feels, he dares. He lets his intuition speak, refines his perception of what is right—for him, for others, for the whole. He transcends his fears and his wounds and He acts in co-intelligence with its environment.
Spiritual Intelligence as a Catalyst for Engagement
The true power of a leader lies not in coercion, but in his ability to bring out meaning. In business, the cost of non-adherence is always high. Because every employee has a fundamental need: that of feel connected to something that surpasses him, that elevates him, that inspires him.
This is what Maslow called the need to belong, later taken up by Baumeister and Leary as a universal psychological foundation. This need can only be met if the leader's decision resonates with the spiritual consciousness of individuals.
Leadership based on spiritual intelligence does not seek obedience, but adherence. It does not aim for the short term, but sustainable organizational excellence.
A model of leadership for tomorrow
Authors like Otto Scharmer (Theory U) Or Joseph Jaworski (Source) have described this inner process, this ability to listen, to feel, to co-create. But this path is not reserved for a select few. Every leader can cultivate this posture. Provided they:
Create a framework of trust,
Promote creativity and connection,
Let the fear of control give way to the power of awakening.
Conclusion: Dare to demonstrate embodied leadership
Spiritual intelligence is not a soft option or accessory: it is the backbone of embodied, aligned, transformative leadership.
It gives the manager the ability to:
to really listen,
to decide in conscience,
to create an environment conducive to engagement and innovation.
And above all, it gives the collective the impetus to surpass itself — together.
EN 
FR