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'If a company loses sight of its culture, it loses many of its soul qualities - loyalty, community, belonging, service - and without these the company becomes a sterile machine.'

In these troubled times, with unethical and dishonest business dealings destroying lives, there is a great need for this challenging call to make money without selling the soul of the workforce.

Georgeanne Lamont has pulled together stories of ordinary people who dare to live and work in extraordinary ways. She has dissected successful soul-friendly companies, some of them surprising (Microsoft – slashing their image as a world bully), some small (Happy Computers and Peach Personnel – who flourish in fiercely competitive markets) and many of them household names (Natwest and Bayer UK). In doing so she uncovers not only why and how a particular ethos is implemented but also shows how to put values into practice with activities to do as a team or as an individual.

These are real stories of real people, giving authentic hope in a world where materialism and consumerism appear to reign to the cost of human happiness. It's about making money without destroying the soul. For a company to change it must come from the inside. If you want to change your life and your company for the better The Spirited Business will help not only individuals but also managers who wish they could find the energy and the strength to guide their teams of people and leaders who want to inspire and make their company truly outstanding.

Georgeanne looks at chief characteristics of soul-friendly companies and tackles issues such as globalisation, burnout, redundancies, working across faiths and with people of no faith, how to achieve sustainable development and emotional literacy. She has also put together a 21-day programme with tools and a questionnaire to assess your own company.

IT usability expert Pat Troolin comments:

" 'The Spirited Business' delivers hope. Through many examples, Georgeanne Lamont illustrates that companies that provide humane work environments not only exist but also are commercially successful. The atmosphere of kindness, generosity, and personal fulfilment that characterize a soul-friendly company does not just nourish employees but supports the discipline required to make the employees productive and their customers happy.

To describe the companies, Lamont uses observations and interviews. She identifies specific practices that make each business soul-friendly, steps back to reflect on associated principles, provides a summary, and offers exercises that readers can use in groups or as individuals to demonstrate those characteristics.

'The Spirited Business' was a delight to read: inspiring, clearly organized, and practical. The book would be useful for anyone who wants to introduce spirit into a workplace or reinforce what's already there. It can be done!."

Buy The Spirited Business from Lamont Associates