The great malady of the 20th century is "loss of soul." -Thomas Moore

Ever worked in a company that has no soul? It's like the night of the living dead-gray bodies moving slowly through cold caverns of florescent light. Many managers doubt that this has any bearing on corporate success. If history is any guide, however, over half of all Fortune 500 companies will age and expire over the next few decades. Without soul and purpose, companies atrophy, decay, and die.

U.S. companies employ over 100 million people, most of whom are dissatisfied with their job. Parasitic leaders and mercenary managers have mentally and spiritually wounded many of these disgruntled workers. According to Business Week, "72% of Americans say business has TOO MUCH POWER over too many aspects of American life" and "only 47% think that what's good for business is good for most Americans." 69% said they had "only some" confidence in those [people]running big business. Only 31% said companies treat all of their employees well while 21% said "poor." And finally, 95% said U.S. corporations should have a purpose beyond profit for shareholders; they also owe something to their workers and communities they serve.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that 80 percent of medical expenditures are stress-related. Stress costs U.S. industry more than $150 billion/year. 60-80% of industrial accidents are due to stressed-out workers. Rage is now the second leading cause of workplace mortality. And 98% of Americans believe that stress can make them sick. But if you believe that the mind (via stress) can make you sick, why wouldn't you believe that the mind can make you well? If you believe that the environment you work in is toxic and causes stress, why wouldn't you believe that changing the energy of the workplace would relieve stress and promote health in the organization?

Too many CEOs treat corporations like machines: soul-numbing, soul-stealing environments dedicated to the exclusive quest for the almighty dollar. CEO compensation has ballooned from 35 times the average worker to as much as 500 times.

One VP of a major telecommunications company said it best: "I know what the price of my soul is worth...five more years." Her words underscore the soul hunger in American business-the need of every employee to connect their purpose to a larger one.

In our tribal past, shamans were the first healers and toolsmiths of the sacred. They learned how to connect with the spirit of nature to bring healing and abundance to the tribe. Carl Jung claimed that shamanism was the earliest forerunner of analytical psychology. Unlike Western society that separates mental and spiritual, physical and natural, shamans employ everything in service of their community.

Shamanic Leadership addresses ways to feed the soul hunger of the American worker and the soul of the company. You will explore the four stances, archetypes, and strategies of shamanic leader:

Healer - who sheds the past
Warrior - who overcomes fear of death
Teacher - who learns directly from knowledge without suffering
Visionary - who designs the future

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