Spirituality and leadership: Engaging both in higher education

Abstract

“Although American higher education can justifiably take pride in its capacity to develop the student's ability to manipulate the material world through its programs in science, medicine, technology, and commerce, it has paid relatively little attention to the student's “inner” development—the sphere of values and beliefs, emotional maturity, moral development, spirituality, and self‐understanding.” —from the Foreword to Encouraging Authenticity and Spirituality in Higher Education by Alexander W. Astin and Helen S. Astin

Manager Perspectives on Embedding Workplace Spirituality into the Business Curriculum: Bridging the Gap

“…Publications about the implications of workplace spirituality in business schools appear to be increasing (Karakas, ; Manz et al, ) a trend, according to Vaill () and Barnett et al (), that was less observable in the 1990s. Contributions from management scholars are extensive (see Bento, ; Bugenhagen, ; Cavanagh, ; Crossman, ; Delbecq, ; Fornaciari & Lund Dean, ; Giacalone & Thompson, ; Grzeda & Assogbavi, ; Harlos, ; Haroutiounian et al, ; Karakas, ; Kernochan, McCormick, & White, ; Lips‐Wiersma, ; Lund Dean & Fornaciari, ; McCormick, ; Narayanswamy, ; Waddock & Lozano, ). It is those educators who have identified a need to prepare future professionals, in Speck's () view, who have been at the vanguard of workplace spirituality literature.…”

“…Grzeda and Assogbavi (), for example, point out that if workplace spirituality suggests a paradigm shift in management practice, that shift will need to be addressed in management education. Bugenhagen () attributes poor ethical behavior in organizations to the arguably scant attention paid to the teaching on values and morals. Management academics are apparently reconsidering a dominant educational paradigm based on rationalism, positivism, materialism, and objectivism in the light of interpretive and constructivist approaches and call for a management education that places greater value on employee well‐being and ethical practice (Giacalone & Thompson, ; Welsh & Dehler, ).…”

“…If few courses on workplace spirituality appear to be offered in management programs (and this has by no means been established), the topic may be integrated with relevance into existing ones. Bugenhagen (), for example, points out that courses on social responsibility and corporate citizenship could hardly overlook spiritual values and beliefs and their role in organizational life. Positive management education also encourages students to explore and express sources of joy, transcendence, meaning, and purpose in preparation for spiritual, moral, and ethical challenges in the workplace (Karakas, ).…”

Leader spirituality and leader virtues as predictors of effective leadership

“…(See, for example, Karakas, 2010;Marques, 2010;Rozuel & Kakabadse, 2010;Smith & Malcolm, 2010;Bugenhagen, 2009;Fry & Cohen, 2009;Ferguson & Milliman, 2008). While these types of expository articles assist in rich dialogue about spiritual leadership, there is a lack of empirical evidence to support the various models and theories they present.…”

“…A different body of literature indicates that leader spirituality is somewhat related with ratings of effective leadership (Karakas, 2010;Marques, 2010;Rozuel & Kakabadse, 2010;Smith & Malcolm, 2010;Bugenhagen, 2009;Fry & Cohen, 2009;Ferguson & Milliman, 2008). A surprisingly limited but third body of literature indicates some empirical association between leader spirituality/religiosity and leader ethics/virtue.…”