About the International Spirit at Work Award

A re-spiritualization of society is taking place, but one more experiential and non-institutionalized, less fundamentalist and sacerdotal, than most of the historically familiar forms of religion. Such a change in the basic picture of reality must inevitably be accompanied by a long-term shift in value emphases and priorities. As a result all institutions can be expected to go through major changes, including particularly the industrial, economic and financial ones. - Willis Harman

The Purpose of the International Spirit at Work Award

One of the basic principles of organizational change is that you get more of what you reward.  One of the basic spiritual principles is that what you give energy to grows.  Most of the news about organizations these days is about negative actions and practices; fraudulent accounting, greed, laying people off while giving executives large bonuses, and so on. 

The International Spirit at Work Award was created as an antidote to these negative stories.  There are some exemplary organizations that are deeply committed to nurturing the human spirit.  This award is a way to recognize and reward those organizations.  It is a way to give energy to what is working in business, and to what is inspiring.  It provides an opportunity for these leading edge organizations to tell their stories and to be a model for other organizations that may want to emulate their practices.

This award was inspired by the work of Willis Harman, PhD (1919-1997) who was a visionary thinker, futurist and social scientist who continuously articulated the possibility for humankind to transcend the limits of out-moded thinking. He was the author of several books including Creative Work: The Constructive Role of Business in a Transforming Society (with John Hormann), An Incomplete Guide to the Future, and Global Mind Change. He was co-editor of The New Business of Business: Sharing Responsibility for a Positive Global Future (with Maya Porter).

Harman was also co-founder of the World Business Academy (1988), president of Institute of Noetic Sciences from 1973 until late 1996, a social scientist and futurist with SRI International in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and a professor at Stanford University prior to these other affiliations. This award honors organizations who are living examples of Willis Harman's vision that business will play a major role in transforming social consciousness.