Spiritual leadership: fulfilling whole‐self needs at work

Abstract

The work community is becoming the most significant community for many people. We are coming to expect our work -where we spend most of our time -to satisfy our needs for wholeness and to help provide spiritual support for our deeply held values and our aspirations for personal as well as economic growth.Reports on original research which supports a growing literature attesting to the centrality of work in meeting both economic and spiritual needs. Spirit refers to the vital, energizing force or principle in the person, the core of self. Respondent managers understand spirit in its secular connotation as defining self meaning and motivation for action. Begins a definition of a model of leadership based on this kind of spiritual relationship, one founded on morality, stewardship, and community. Also lists some critical issues that this emerging leadership model faces.

Spirituality and Performance in Organizations: A Literature Review

“…Separating work, life, family, and spirit into compartments may rip authenticity off employees; leaving them feeling unfulfilled, stressed and alienated (Cavanagh, 1999;Fairholm, 1996). Accordingly, the saliency of the search for meaning and the need for inner satisfaction for employees in today's workplaces is foreseeable and well-documented in the literature (Cavanagh, 1999;Fairholm, 1996;Jacobson, 1995). Fairholm (1996) cites Renesch (1995) reporting more than forty million people "searching for a more intrinsically valued lifestyle" in the U.S. (p. 11).…”

“…Oldenburg and Bandsuch (1997) interpret this trend as a longing in people's souls for deeper meaning, deeper connection, greater simplicity, a connection to something higher. In a time of rising emphasis on business ethics and work life balance; corporations feel compelled to respond to the employee need for meaning at work (Cavanagh, 1999;Pratt and Ashforth, 2003;Gull and Doh, 2004; Cacioppe, 2000).Indeed, many employees in today's workplaces are reported to question themselves and their work, ask themselves about the essence and meaning of their work, and search for a sense of purpose and meaning at work (Neal, 1997; Brandt, 1996; Cacioppe, 2000;Ashmos and Duchon, 2000;Konz and Ryan, 1999; Kouzes and Posner, 2003; Burack, 1999;Fairholm, 1996). The following set of existential questions employees reflect on and ask themselves, introduced by Kouzes and Posner (2003) These questions can go deep in the heart of employees and have implications for employees' careers, lives, needs, aspirations, passions, and spirituality.…”

“…Accordingly, the saliency of the search for meaning and the need for inner satisfaction for employees in today's workplaces is foreseeable and well-documented in the literature (Cavanagh, 1999;Fairholm, 1996;Jacobson, 1995). Fairholm (1996) cites Renesch (1995) reporting more than forty million people "searching for a more intrinsically valued lifestyle" in the U.S. (p. 11). Similarly, Johnson (2004) reports 61% individuals think their workplaces would benefit from a greater sense of meaning and spirituality.…”

“…Indeed, many employees in today's workplaces are reported to question themselves and their work, ask themselves about the essence and meaning of their work, and search for a sense of purpose and meaning at work (Neal, 1997; Brandt, 1996; Cacioppe, 2000;Ashmos and Duchon, 2000;Konz and Ryan, 1999; Kouzes and Posner, 2003; Burack, 1999;Fairholm, 1996). The following set of existential questions employees reflect on and ask themselves, introduced by Kouzes and Posner (2003) These questions can go deep in the heart of employees and have implications for employees' careers, lives, needs, aspirations, passions, and spirituality.…”

The Roles of Emotional Intelligence and Spiritual Intelligence at the Workplace

“…According to Fairholm (1996), work has become the main feature of many people. It has also become the main issue in the society.…”