Spiritual Leadership: A Superior Way to Be and Serve

The corporate world is realizing that spiritual values are integral to employee well-being and business success. Organizations are becoming increasingly aware that people seek meaning and purpose in their work and have a deep desire to connect with other human beings as part of a community. This chapter focuses on the moral and spiritual dimensions of holistic leadership. Spiritual leadership is not dependent on your title and you do not have to be at the top of an organization to practice spiritual leadership. It depends upon the self-power and not the position-power. It is about being true to yourself and living your core values. It has been observed that leaders need to follow their internal compass in living out their core values and purpose. Authentic leadership and servant leadership are primary expressions of spiritual leadership. Authentic leaders are altruistic, honest, trustworthy and principled decision-makers who care about the well-being of their followers, organization and the needs of the broader society. Authenticity is defined as the unity and purity of one’s thoughts, words and deeds. The authenticity of a leader is measured not only in terms of the nature of the values the leader espouses but also by how consistently the leader strives to live up to those values. Servant leadership represents a shift from followers serving leaders to leaders serving followers. It denotes increased service to others, a holistic approach to work, and a greater sense of community. Since leadership is an expression of who we are, in discovering, living, and sharing our deepest values lies the fulfillment of our life and leadership.