Integrity Ideas are specific actions a leader can consider during the Re-Align step of Integriosity^®–actions that will begin to Re-Align the organization with Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities.  You can find more Integrity Ideas at Integrous | Integrity Ideas (integriosity.com)

INTEGRITY IDEA: Color Your World (With Intention)

“Color Your World (With Intention)” is about enhancing the wellness of employees through the intentional use of color in their workspace.

It recognizes that color in workspaces can have a positive impact on employee well-being and that an organization pursuing faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing should care about the overall wellness of its employees, because wellness is critical to human flourishing.

Integrity Ideas are practical actions toward implementing a bigger WHY for the organization.  We believe some are critical (and necessary) steps in the RENEW/RE-ALIGN/RE-IMAGINE/RESTORE process.  Others are just ideas to be considered if they feel like a good fit based on what leaders prayerfully discern is best for stewarding the organization toward its WHY.

Like the lighting ideas described in our recent post on increasing worker well-being through better workplace lighting, “Color Your World (With Intention)” falls into the “if it’s a good fits” category because implementing it is dependent on the nature of the work environment and because it can involve significant expenditure.

God’s Love of Beauty and Color

God originally colored our world, was pleased with his work, and at times was very specific about the colors he commanded or foretold.  Creation is rich in color and beauty for humans to explore, cultivate, steward and use.  Just as Adam named the animals, any box of Crayola Crayons reveals how we have taken up the mantle of the Creation Mandate in Genesis 1:28 to name the myriad colors God gifted.

We believe Scripture affirms the use of beauty, craftsmanship, and thoughtful environments to uplift people and reflect God’s character. The Bible is clear that God cares about beauty and the aesthetics of what is pleasing to the eye:

And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight. (Genesis 2:9)

And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. (Exodus 28:2)

We also see the specificity of color in what God gifted, commanded and foretold:

He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns. (Exodus 35:35)

Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns. (Exodus 26:1)

And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns. (Exodus 28:6)

The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. ¹⁹ The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, ²⁰ the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.²¹ And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. (Revelation 21:18-21)

Scripture also suggests that we should care about beauty and that aesthetics can have a positive impact on our well-being:

The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. (Proverbs 15:30)

Finally, brothers . . . whatever is lovely .  .  .  think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Color and Wellness

The power of color and its impact on our mind, body and soul has inspired artists, writers and poets for centuries.  Just consider these observations:

Of all God’s gifts to the sighted man, color is holiest, the most divine, the most solemn. (John Ruskin)

Color is the place where our brain and the universe meet. (Paul Klee)

Color is a power which directly influences the soul. (Wassily Kandinsky)

Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways. (Oscar Wilde)

Colors express the main psychic functions of man. (Carl Gustav Jung)

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal titled “How the Science of Color Boosts Productivity at Work“ discusses the potential of color to enhance employee well-being.

Color can significantly impact workplace productivity and well-being. Saturated colors enhance alertness and cognitive performance, while calming colors promote relaxation. . ..  Research suggests color can have a powerful effect on workplace engagement. “Saturated colors have the capacity to change our respiration, our blood pressure, and even our body temperature,” says Joseph White, director of design strategy for MillerKnoll.

CONTINUUM: Practices

The Integriosity model organizes “heart change” along six Covert-Overt Continuums.  There is nothing magic about these categories, but we believe they are helpful in thinking about practical execution of a Re-Imagined Purpose, Re-Imagined Values and a Re-Imagined Culture.  The Continuums are Prayer, Proclamation, Policies, Practices, Products, People.

Each Continuum represents an area in which leaders can begin to think about, plan and institute Re-Alignment changes to the heart of the organization.

“Color Your World (With Intention)” is on the Practices Continuum. It involves practices the organization can adopt to affirm its commitment to Biblical flourishing and the Biblical principles of Imago Dei and love your neighbor, to reflect and reinforce its purpose and values, to care for its employees, and to be wise stewards of the organization.

COVERT-OVERT RATING: Highly Covert

The Integriosity model breaks the Covert-Overt Continuums into six gradations–from Highly Covert to Highly Overt–that we believe are helpful in beginning to pray and think about what is most appropriate for an organization at a particular moment in time.

Most Integrity Ideas will have one place on the scale.  Some can vary depending on how they are implemented.   “Color Your World (With Intention)” is Highly Covert (an action that would be taken by a secular company).  Even secular businesses should care about the health of their employees, if only from the Profit as Purpose “bottom-line” perspective of lower healthcare costs, less sick-time and higher productivity as detailed in the wellness white paper by Storehouse Wellness.

“Color Your World (With Intention)” can also be Overt (An overtly faith-based action known generally within the organization) if the leaders of the organization choose to explain its importance in terms of the Biblical significance of treating people with dignity as creations in the image of God and loving your neighbor.

STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees

When we categorize faith-based actions, we also consider the stakeholders principally impacted by the action: Employees, Customers/Clients, Owners, Suppliers/Vendors, Community and Kingdom.

“Color Your World (With Intention)” principally serves Employees by caring for their well-being.  It also benefits Owners through wise stewardship and the Community through healthier members.

IMPLEMENTATION

As with most Integrity Ideas involving employee wellness, “Color Your World (With Intention)” is conceptually straightforward.  The intentional use of color in workspaces can improve employee health, well-being and productivity.  It is also possible to use color intentionally to enhance specific workspaces by choosing colors most conducive to the intended use.

“Color Your World (With Intention)” is also wise stewardship and one way to lead faithfully by curating and reinforcing a caring and compassionate organizational culture that aligns with Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities, wanting employees to flourish because you want to love them as “neighbors” and not just because color can enhance worker productivity and having “well” employees improves the bottom-line.

But unlike many Integrity Ideas, “Color Your World (With Intention)” can be a costly undertaking, particularly if you are not otherwise redecorating or repainting. A faithful leader considering implementing “Color Your World (With Intention)” would be well served by getting the advice of a design professional familiar with the research on color and well-being.

Using color intentionally should also be accompanied by an honest assessment of the WHY behind the intention. Color is powerful, and anything powerful can be used for good or for bad.  The intentional use of color to modify human behavior can be a form of manipulation.

A faithful leader seeking to lead with faithful integrity toward Biblical flourishing needs to ensure that their intentional use of color aligns with the RE-IMAGINED PURPOSE, RE-IMAGINED VALUES and  RE-IMAGINED CULTURE of the organization–to borrow a phrase from Cyndi Lauper, that the organization’s true colors come shining through in the new colors. Armed with ideas and pure intentions, we believe the choice of colors should be submitted to prayer.

While it may not be practical for all workspaces or within the budget of all organizations, “Color Your World (With Intention)” is one way to love and care for employees through improving employee health, wellness and morale.  Creating workspaces that enhance rather than undermine well-being reinforces a culture of faithful integrity and a pursuit of Biblical flourishing that reflects the light referenced in Matthew 5:14-16.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

PERSONAL NOTE (from PM): I don’t know if it fits the color schemes developed for workspaces, but I have always enjoyed working in offices with a dark green theme.  It really began in London where I had green striped wallpaper in my office.  When we moved to Connecticut, I wanted that same green on the walls of my home office.  Lisa has used bright yellows to brighten our home–something she says she adapted from our time in London as well.  I like pink shirts to the point that Lisa has been known to say, “Another pink shirt?”

ESSENCE:  Integrity Ideas are specific practical actions a faithful leader can consider in leading faithfully through business a better way.

INTEGRITY IDEA: Color Your World (With Intention)

“Color Your World (With Intention)” is about enhancing the wellness of employees through the intentional use of color in their workspace. It recognizes that color is powerful and, in workspaces, can have a positive impact on employee well-being. It also recognizes that an organization pursuing faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing should care about the overall wellness of its employees, because wellness is critical to human flourishing. God originally colored our world, was pleased with his work, and at times was very specific about the colors he commanded or foretold.  Creation is rich in color and beauty for humans to explore, cultivate, steward and use.  “Color Your World (With Intention)” is also wise stewardship and one way to lead faithfully by curating and reinforcing a caring and compassionate organizational culture that aligns with Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities, wanting employees to flourish because you want to love them as “neighbors” and not just because color can enhance worker productivity and having “well” employees improves the bottom-line.

COVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action): Practices

COVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly Covert

STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees

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Image credit: Original image by David Pisnoy on Unsplash
(photo cropped)