The Correlation Between Faith and Work for Competitive Advantage
Employee disengagement is a critical challenge impacting the global economy. Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace research estimates that low employee engagement costs the global economy $8.9 trillion, or 9% of global GDP.
According to Gallup, mental well-being has declined significantly, with stress, sadness, anxiety, anger, and worry at their highest levels since the survey began. This disengagement equates to tangible financial losses for businesses.
For example, Best Buy found that a mere 0.1 percent increase in employee engagement translated into an additional $100,000 in revenue per store. High engagement means employees show up for work, stay committed, and avoid “quiet quitting”—where they merely go through the motions at their desks.
Engaged employees lead to fewer safety incidents, improved customer service, higher productivity, and increased profits.
At the recent Faith at Work conference in Dallas, a poignant question was posed: “Are you in full-time ministry?” Most business leaders answered no, and many do not see a path to integrate faith and work.
However, a Monmouth survey reveals a significant opportunity—98 million non-believers are influenced by CEOs during their 30-hour work weeks. This amounts to 2.9 billion hours of potential influence for Kingdom advancement.
If we fail to engage our workforce and recognize our work as an opportunity to reach the unchurched, we will continue to see people slip away.
Faith-driven CEOs often outperform their peers due to the strong, value-driven culture they create that correlates with better financial performance. By integrating Kingdom values in the workplace, issues of engagement and loneliness can dissipate.
Mark Whitacre, Vice President of Culture and Care at Coca-Cola Consolidated, has witnessed this firsthand. The company has achieved higher earnings year over year, and the more they earn, the more they give. They have increased chaplaincy, offer voluntary prayer sessions and Bible studies, and have developed intentional programs to engage employees. They operate their publicly traded business as a mission, ensuring that culture and discipleship are not left to chance.
You can hear directly from Mark Whitacre if you join us at the Christian Chamber of Commerce in Tampa Bay on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
Coca-Cola Consolidated’s CEO Frank Harris launched T-Factor to help companies worldwide implement purpose-driven cultures. “We believe that God has the power to transform individuals, organizations, and the world if leaders are bold enough to create a faith-friendly, servant-based, and purpose-driven work environment,” says Harris.
Let’s be bold!
As a member of the US Christian Chamber of Commerce, you gain access to a wealth of resources and connections to help your business flourish.
Upcoming events include “Wellness for the Win” with TEDx speaker Carolina Marrelli, and “Religious Freedom at Work,” featuring Bob Pruitt from Alliance Defending Freedom.
Faith-driven leadership, with its emphasis on ethical behavior, employee well-being, and community building, can lead to superior business performance and long-term success. Incorporating these principles into your business strategy can provide a competitive advantage in today’s market, defy worldly statistics and, most importantly, accelerate Kingdom advancement through the marketplace.
One of our charters at the US Christian Chamber of Commerce Foundation is to conduct our own research and development (R&D) to continuously support the importance of Kingdom culture in organizations. This culture is beneficial for God, employees, and businesses. Your tax-exempt donation will further our mission.
Please give today and help us make a lasting impact!
