Image of the human being and corporate culture
Corporate culture works best when it is aligned with the image of the human being.
Image of the human being and Corporate Culture
At the 4LP.eu meeting, which takes place four times a year, we discussed, among other things, aspects of a culture of collaboration that we aim to ground in the image of the human being. I will attempt to summarize the discussion. Four distinct levels can be identified within the human person: the Self, the Soul, Rhythm and Processes, and the Body.
The classification into self, soul, rhythm, and body encompasses the following aspects: The human body is solid. However, it contains many fluid elements that sustain it. As is well known, the body consists largely of these fluid or aqueous elements. Think of everything that flows, that moves. This is also connected to rhythm. For example, the rhythm of waking and sleeping. In sleep, we regenerate; we recover. We go to work on weekdays. We eat regularly. All these flowing and rhythmic elements are closely connected to the so-called solid body. Together, they form the foundation of life. Most of these activities are likely unconscious.
The soul, on the other hand, is quite different. We can attribute thinking, feeling, and willing to the soul. These are inner activities in which the ego is more or less consciously active. In thinking, a high level of consciousness is possible. In feeling, it tends to fluctuate. Feelings come and go. One strives to perceive them well and consciously direct them. One can consciously choose “higher” feelings, such as gratitude, peace, and love. But that is not always easy. The will is often active unconsciously, but with practice it can be applied more and more consciously in thinking and feeling. For example, when I consciously choose “higher” feelings, the will is involved, because I must first consider it and then act on it. The activity behind this is the will.
One can grasp the “I” level by telling oneself: I am here, I am sitting or standing right now, I am thinking, I know that I am doing this right now, I am aware that I exist, I am fully present in this moment, I am fully aware, I am being. With the help of the “I,” one can carry out this self-determination. The more self-aware I am, the more strongly the “I” is present.
In this fourfold view of the human being, one can recognize the four elements: the earthly, physical (Earth); the rhythmic, fluid, movement (Water); the soul (Air); and the “I” quality, consciousness (Warmth).
Levels of consciousness
In terms of conscious being, one is often unconscious in the physical and rhythmic realms. For example, when driving a car: much of what is necessary to steer the car safely happens through practice, repeated action, and automatically. It has to be that way. This is true of many activities. One can do them, has experience with them, and gets better at them by practicing and doing them over and over again.
In the psychic realm, one is already more conscious in one’s thinking. But this requires a high degree of alertness. Most of the time, however, one thinks without being fully aware of it. When I read a book or cook, I use my thinking. But I don’t make myself aware of this every single time. With every thought, with every sensory perception, feelings arise. I can consciously perceive and direct them—if I want to. In everyday life, however, we tend to live with our own feelings rather unconsciously. We react in relationships. It is only during tensions and conflicts that I become aware of my own feelings—often only then, when I get annoyed with others.
The I and the will are very closely connected. For me to become aware of something, it requires an inner activity of the will.
It requires a kind of distance, a stepping back, from the inner matter I wish to observe, of which I wish to become aware. If I want to reflect on my thoughts, I must, so to speak, place them before me. I can use a notebook where I have jotted down my thoughts. In the same way, I observe my feelings. This requires a distance. Like a mirror that I create for myself.
Image of the Human Being and Corporate Culture
Now, when we turn to the elements of corporate culture, we can organize them according to this four-part structure as follows and thus orient them toward the human being:
The Physical Level – the Body of Corporate Culture
This level encompasses everything material, visible, and tangible. It forms the solid foundation. This includes the physical work environment, workplace ergonomics, technical equipment, fair salaries, financial security, rituals and celebrations, structures, responsibility, and contractual terms.
The Level of Rhythmic Processes
Here, we look at the vitality of the culture, the habits, the people’s dispositions, the temporal and energetic elements of work (breaks, work-life balance), working hours, stressful periods, discussions, regularly recurring meetings (jour fixe), communication among colleagues, information flow, work routines, growth and development, employee development, training, workshops, onboarding, and collaborative learning.
The Emotional Level
The emotional level encompasses sensations, feelings, sympathy, antipathy, social motivation, everything that takes place in interpersonal interactions, the work atmosphere, communication and interactions with one another, tone of voice, mutual appreciation, empathy, respect, enthusiasm for work, and emotional attachment to the team. Then there is the learning culture, the feedback culture, psychological safety within the team, dealing with fears and mistakes, the level of trust, conflict management, and conflict resolution—how tensions, friction, and frustration are handled—as well as the diversity of team members and the inclusion of differences.
The Ego Level
The “I” level encompasses topics such as spirit, consciousness, identity, and meaning. This level encompasses the meaning of the whole, the purpose and rationale behind a corporate culture, the values and norms that guide us in our collaboration (for example, human warmth, or development and growth as values), leadership style and decision-making (how are decisions made in our organization—top-down, or on an equal footing—with one another?), taking responsibility, serving as a role model, a willingness to innovate and agility, mental flexibility and the ability to envision the future, but also the conscious decision to break with habits and adopt new ones, the authentic, conscious self-image—the identity through which the culture of collaboration is lived and communicated both internally and externally (employer branding).
Summary
For a healthy corporate culture, all four levels must be taken into account—just as with human beings. A strong vision at the “I” level is of little use if the emotional level is marked by conflict, if processes are chaotic, or if the physical level (e.g., salary and workplace) fails to meet basic needs.
A healthy corporate culture needs a secure foundation. This consists of clarity regarding meaning, identity, purpose, and values (ego level), as well as a secure material foundation comprising the work environment, salary, and financial security (physical level).
Within this framework, processes and rhythms must be managed in a way that brings joy and fosters vitality (rhythmic level). And the emotional level requires attention to the harmonization of emotion and communication (emotional level).
To summarize even more briefly, a healthy culture of collaboration therefore requires:
A clear “why” (ego level).
A secure physical foundation.
Healthy workflows and processes.
A pleasant, joyful emotional climate.
Regular reflection and integration—the ego level, which leads in all four areas.
Warm regards
Alexander Schwedeler
You can listen to my podcast about this in German language here.
