Sparking a feminine organizational culture: insights from spiritual wisdom traditions

Purpose – Masculine organizational cultures are perpetuated by stereotypical management practices taught in most business schools. To combat the negative effects of such cultures, how can a spiritual lens inform change management to create a more feminine culture? This study aims to help leaders visualize femininity and appreciate the benefits of spirituality to achieve humanistic workplaces. Change management can be leveraged to alter culture. Design/methodology/approach – First, the authors highlight feminine management practices showing positive results. Thematic analysis of femininity in the most prevalent traditions of Christianity, Hinduism, Sufism (of the Islamic tradition) and Tibetan Buddhism has great potential to resonate. The themes of femininity in this study illustrate change management signs and symbols to spark a shift in organizational cultures and mental models. Findings – Compassion, connection to nature, unity and a powerful feminine leader (irrespective of gender) are themes discovered in these spiritual traditions. Practical implications – Based on symbolic interactionism theory, feminine images have the potential to guide and create a more humanistic culture. Human resources and change management practices are levers to facilitate better outcomes. These spiritual workplace practices are then linked to management practices, showing positive outcomes. Social implications – Because organizations and societies are interconnected through norms and practices, organizations balanced in their culture and structure have the potential to contribute significantly to society and their community. Originality/value – The authors explore the intersection of feminine organizational cultures and spiritual wisdom traditions, which can lead to valuable workplace outcomes.