Patty Purpur de Vries

Leadership Coach

Patty Purpur de Vries

Chief Experience Officer, Living Well USA

Patty graduated from Stanford in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology after receiving a full-athletic scholarship. While at Stanford, she was a nine-time NCAA All-American in shot put and discus, won the 1989 women’s Olympic-style weightlifting championships in her weight class and competed at the 1988 Olympic Trials in the discus. In 1995, she founded TimeOut Services, which by 2008, earned $5 million in yearly revenue and employed over 100 team members. Patty and her team were instrumental in designing the original wellness programs for Google, Cisco, Yahoo!, Safeway and KLA-Tencor.

In 2009, Patty sold her corporate wellness division and trademarked Community BootCamp program to Plus One of New York (now part of Optum). Patty’s awards include: The Key to the City of Grand Forks, North Dakota, Business Journal’s Top Women in Business, the Top 50 Influential Women of Silicon Valley and a Wellness Council of America (WELCOA) Top 100 wellness professionals. From 2011-2022, Patty supported the wellness initiatives of Stanford University, Stanford Children’s Health and Stanford Healthcare, most recently as the director of strategy, outreach and innovation for Stanford’s faculty & staff wellness program.

In 2022, Patty and her husband founded www.livingwellusa.com where they offer well-being workshops and event space. The Living Well event center offers 4.5 acres of nature for growth and personal exploration. A nature lovers paradise just 20 minutes from the SJ Airport.

The Transformative Power of Spiritual Practices for Business Leaders and Their Teams

In our post-Covid, competitive world of business, leaders and teams often find themselves navigating a multitude of challenges, striving for success while facing stress, uncertainty, and rising levels of burnout. In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the benefits of integrating spiritual practices into the corporate world. This article explores the transformative power of spiritual practices for business leaders highlighting the positive impact these practices can have on well-being, productivity, and overall success.

⦁ Enhanced Emotional Well-being:
Spiritual practices such as meditation, mindfulness, and gratitude have been shown to enhance emotional well-being, providing individuals with the tools to manage stress, regulate emotions, and cultivate a positive mindset. A study published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology by Sutcliffe, Vogus, and Dane (2016) found that mindfulness practices significantly reduced stress and improved well-being among employees. When business leaders and teams engage in regular spiritual practices, they develop emotional resilience, enabling them to navigate challenges with greater clarity, compassion, and adaptability.

⦁ Increased Focus and Productivity:
Spiritual practices have been found to improve focus, attention, and productivity, all of which are essential qualities for business leaders and teams striving for optimal performance. Research by Jha, Stanley, Kiyonaga, Wong, and Gelfand (2010) demonstrated that mindfulness meditation enhances cognitive function, including attention and working memory. By incorporating practices such as meditation or deep breathing exercises into their daily routines, leaders and teams can cultivate a state of focused awareness, reducing distractions and enhancing productivity. Improved focus allows for better decision-making, creative problem-solving, and a greater ability to prioritize tasks effectively.

⦁ Strengthened Ethical Leadership:
Spiritual practices can foster ethical leadership by promoting self-reflection, moral awareness, and compassion. According to a study by Brown and Treviño (2014), ethical leadership positively influences employee attitudes, behaviors, and overall organizational performance. Engaging in practices that cultivate self-awareness and empathy, such as journaling, contemplation, and compassion exercises, empowers leaders to make principled decisions and act with integrity. By embodying ethical leadership, business leaders foster a culture of trust, transparency, and ethical behavior within their teams, leading to enhanced employee engagement and long-term organizational success.
⦁ Enhanced Interpersonal Relationships:
Strong interpersonal relationships are vital for effective collaboration, teamwork, and overall organizational success. Spiritual practices provide a foundation for developing empathy, active listening, and effective communication skills.

A study published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology by Amichai-Hamburger, Wainapel, and Fox (2002) revealed that spiritual practices improve communication and foster more satisfying relationships in the workplace. When leaders and teams engage in practices that promote empathy and compassion, they build trust, enhance cooperation, and create an inclusive and supportive work environment.

⦁ Increased Resilience and Adaptability:
Business leaders and teams face constant change, uncertainty, and setbacks. Spiritual practices help cultivate resilience, adaptability, and a growth mindset. Research by Luthans, Vogelgesang, and Lester (2006) demonstrated that resilience training positively impacts employee well-being and performance. Practices such as visualization, affirmation, and gratitude strengthen individuals’ ability to bounce back from adversity, learn from failure, and embrace change. By fostering resilience and adaptability, leaders and teams can navigate challenges more effectively, seize opportunities, and thrive in an ever-evolving business landscape.

Conclusion:
The integration of spiritual practices into the corporate world is gaining momentum as leaders recognize the profound benefits these practices offer for themselves and their teams. The research-backed benefits of spiritual practices, such as enhanced emotional well-being, increased focus and productivity, strengthened ethical leadership, improved interpersonal relationships, and increased resilience and adaptability, contribute to the overall success and flourishing of individuals and organizations. By incorporating spiritual practices into their daily lives, business leaders and teams can create a harmonious work environment that values well-being, fosters growth, and cultivates a sense of purpose, ultimately leading to sustainable success in the business world.