Executives' Fractured Spirit and Dissociation at Work

This paper offers an initial two-dimensional exploration and conceptualization of dissociation at work, utilizing a psychological explanation of dissociation and an organizational science description of spirituality. Based on literature reviews and observational field interviews, the definition of workplace dissociation emerging is the subjective experience of being a) disconnected from the flow of one's conscious awareness of self, others, and the environment, b) separated from one's skills and behaviors by which one creates value through work, c) fragmented in one's essential identity and not fully present or available, and/or d) unaware of the consequences of this experience on self and significant others. Understanding the impact on individuals and the search for causal factors and interventions are critical next steps.