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The Hole in the Soul of Business

That's the title of a recent blog post by management author and consultant Gary Hamel. He blames this hole, which "bleeds the vitality and enthusiasm out of people at work," on a "paucity of purpose."

Near the end of his rant, Hamel quotes the Austrian neurologist and concentration camp survivor Viktor Frankl from Frankl's life-affirming book "Man's Search for Meaning:"

“For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended consequence of one’s personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself . . .”

"A cause greater than oneself." 

Many today would lead you to believe that the road to success is to make oneself "the cause," through the pursuit of celebrity, power, influence and money. And that may be true . . . for you. If so, God speed. But please spare the people you work with, spare us all, and go it alone.

People are not inspired by your pursuits or your status.  They're inspired -- and come to life -- by their pursuits. They want their work and their lives to be stimulating, meaningful and to make a difference to others.

Lately, I've had many candid conversations with friends and associates who are leaders at well-known firms. And without exception, they are losing their passion and spirit. In fact, their psychological reactions to their work environments remind me of what Frankl found in the concentration camps:

1. Shock at the situation;
2. Apathy after becoming accustomed to organizational existence, in which the inmate values only that which helps himself and his friends survive; and
3. Reactions of depersonalization, bitterness, and disillusionment if she survives.

Nietzsch wrote, "He who has a why to live can bear with almost any how."

Without a why -- a why to reach and stretch, a why to proffer ideas, a why to treat customers and coworkers with love and respect, a why to go the extra mile, a why to be committed to excellence, a why to go to work in the morning -- all the hows, whats, whens, and what fors, become empty rhetoric.

Worse, they come to represent the inmates' situations; to be tolerated and gamed for the survival of themselves and their friends.

Leaders: Please wake up before it's too late.

P.S. You know it's getting bad when "happiness coaching" appears in the workplace.

"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve." -- Albert Schweitzer

Posted February 1, 2010
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