Maximizing the Triple Bottom Line through Spiritual Leadership

Abstract

O ne of the greatest challenges facing leaders today is the need to develop new business models that accentuate ethical leadership, employee well-being, sustainability and social responsibility without sacrificing profitability, revenue growth, and other indicators of financial performance. This article seeks to address top managers’ need to simultaneously maximize the so-called triple bottom line, or ‘‘People, Planet, Profit.’’ In doing so, we draw from the emerging fields of workplace spirituality, spiritual leadership, and conscious capitalism. Research conducted with Interstate Battery System of America, Inc. (Interstate Batteries) is offered as a case study of a company that may serve as a role model for spiritual leadership. We also present a general process for maximizing the triple bottom line through the development of the motivation and leadership required to simultaneously optimize employee wellbeing, social responsibility, organizational commitment, and financial performance. Enron Corp., Adelphia Communications Corp., Arthur Andersen, Tyco International and WorldCom Inc. are but some of the many scandals that have cast a chilling pall over the way business is conducted. These companies have given people the perception that corporations are amoral, corrupt, and lack both ethical leadership and a sense of social responsibility. Michael Douglas’ Oscar winning performance in Wall Street claiming that ‘‘greed is good’’ still appears to be the mantra of most businesses big and small. However, there are companies, such as SAS Institute, Google, Shell Oil Co., NEC Corp., and Procter & Gamble Co., that have committed themselves to a course of developing business models that accentuate ethical leadership, employee well-being, sustainability and social responsibility. These companies believe this can be done without sacrificing profitability, revenue growth, and other areas of financial and performance excellence. In effect, they are experimenting with new business models and adopting sustainable business strategies that have a positive economic, social, and environmental impact, often referred to as the triple bottom line.