Employee wellbeing has become a major priority for organizations worldwide. Companies are investing in wellness programs, flexible work policies, and employee engagement initiatives. Yet burnout, workplace stress, and declining employee commitment remain common challenges.
According to Dr. Anshul Gupta, a Human Resources researcher, author, and workplace spirituality expert, organizations may be overlooking a critical factor: leadership.
Drawing from years of academic research and corporate experience, Dr. Gupta believes employee wellbeing is shaped not only by workplace policies but also by the quality of leadership employees experience every day.
The Leadership Factor Behind Employee Wellbeing
Modern employees are looking for more than salaries and promotions. They want purpose, belonging, trust, and meaningful relationships at work. At the same time, organizations are facing growing pressure to retain talent and build resilient workplace cultures.
In this environment, leaders play a crucial role in shaping how employees feel about their work and workplace.
According to Dr. Gupta, leadership extends beyond managing performance and achieving business targets. The way leaders communicate, build trust, and support their teams directly influences employee engagement, motivation, and wellbeing.
Leadership Beyond Targets and Performance Reviews
Dr. Gupta’s research focuses on Workplace Spirituality, a concept that emphasizes meaning, purpose, values, and human connection in organizational life.
Contrary to common assumptions, workplace spirituality is not about religion. Instead, it focuses on creating workplaces where employees feel connected to their work, aligned with organizational values, and valued as individuals.
Her research suggests that when leaders foster trust, empathy, authenticity, and shared purpose, employees are more likely to feel engaged and committed.
In many cases, wellbeing initiatives alone may have limited impact if employees do not experience support and meaningful relationships within their teams.
Why Employees Want More Than a Paycheck
One of the key themes in Dr. Gupta’s work is that employees perform best when they understand the purpose behind their work.
Leaders have the ability to connect everyday tasks to a larger vision and help employees see the value of their contributions. This sense of meaning can strengthen commitment, improve morale, and create healthier workplace cultures.
As organizations adapt to changing workforce expectations, purpose-driven leadership is becoming increasingly relevant.
Where Research Meets Workplace Reality
Dr. Gupta spent seven years researching Workplace Spirituality through her MPhil and PhD studies. The research inspired her to write the award-winning book, The Spiritual Indian Corporate, which explores how organizations can build more meaningful and human-centered workplaces.
The book examines how workplace spirituality can help organizations address challenges related to engagement, culture, and employee wellbeing. For HR professionals, business leaders, and management students, it offers valuable insights into building more meaningful workplaces.
Building on these ideas, her second book, The Corporate Spirituality, focuses on implementation. It presents practical frameworks, measurement tools, and strategies that organizations can use to apply workplace spirituality in real-world settings.
Creating Leaders Who Inspire, Not Just Manage
To take these ideas beyond research and publishing, Dr. Gupta founded TheCorporateSpirituality.com, a platform that offers executive coaching, leadership development programs, consulting, workshops, and certification courses.
Through her work, she continues to advocate for a simple but powerful idea: employee wellbeing is not created through policies alone. It is built through leadership that creates trust, purpose, and human connection.
Readers interested in leadership development, workplace spirituality, and employee wellbeing can follow Dr. Anshul Gupta on LinkedIn and Instagram to stay updated on her latest insights and work.
