5 Tips to navigate the holidays and spirituality in the workplace

December 15, 1:00 PMWork Life ExaminerJudy Martin

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Navigating the religious holidays in the workplace is an extremely personal and intimate journey. But for large companies which employee hundreds of people, it's more like a dance between satisfying the desires of the workers and fostering a climate of acceptance and tolerance.

A news organization that I've worked with for many years is having an "anniversary party" in December. One could deduce that this is indeed - a holiday party. But there is absolutely no religious or faith based thread for this party, although this same company displays a Menorah, a Christmas Tree and Kwanzaa decor every year in the spirit of inclusion.   

But how do you figure out what is acceptable with regard to practicing ones' spirituality at work so it doesn't interfere with your working relationships or career?  I posed that question to Judith Neal, author of Edgewalkers: People and Organizations that take Risks, Build Bridges and Break New Ground, and the Co-Founder of the International Center for Spirit at Work. She has done an enormous amount of research into the way corporate America handles spirituality in the workplace and offered a few tips.

1. Do your own inner work: Neal recommends doing your own inner work by awakening and deepening your own practice before you even walk in the workplace. Neal says, "Especially in a difficult economic and working environment, you have to maintain your own sense of spirituality as an individual, that's why they call it spiritual practice." Cultivating that on your own time is crucial before you can practice your spirituality at work.
2. Steer clear of heavily religious symbols: If decorating the office, be inclusive but approach the holidays as a time of being grateful and fostering renewal in preparation for the coming year. Use nature and the seasons as the themes.
3. Adjust your behavior to your working environment: Don't spout your beliefs over the loudspeaker. Examine the culture of your workplace. Is your leadership supportive of being open about your spirituality at work? If so - having spiritual pictures or talisman on your desk might not be a problem. If you work in the bible belt - it's  a different story. If you work for certain non-profit organizations it might be permissible to be more open about your beliefs.
4. Match your language to your workplace: Neal says,"Never use language that will create fear or conflict. Match your discussions to the people you are working with." For some at work, meditation might sound "new agey." Speaking about taking time to be contemplative, silent or participating in stress reduction practices will be less intimidating. You don't have to talk about faith, spirituality or religion. But in some workplace settings, prayer is an acceptable and open practice. In a corporate environment, it's more digestible to speak about core human values, ethics, virtues and compassion.
5. No proselytizing, period: Your beliefs should not be put upon anyone else. Neal says,"It's really a diversity issue, you have to be respectful of people's sensitivities and differences." Again, it depends on the office environment. Having an open discussion with your management about how to approach the holidays might save everyone a headache down the road.