A spiritual approach to leadership involves the application of spiritual values and principles to the workplace. The spiritual leader understands the importance of employees finding meaning in their work and demonstrates a genuine concern for the ‘whole’ person, not just the employee. Who are we as a work team, department, or organisation? Is our work worthy? What is our greater purpose? What are our values and ethical principles? What will be our legacy?
This approach cannot be understood outside of the more general issue of spirituality in the workplace. Many employees look to the workplace as a means of finding meaning in their lives. In today’s world, many employees regard their workplace as a community even as other communities that give meaning to people’s lives are strained or ripped apart by modern styles of living. For example, many people used to find a sense of identity and connection in their neighbourhoods and communities. This has changed. Many people relocate several times during their careers and spend relatively short periods of time in any one place. They do not put down roots in their local community, do not participate to a great degree in community events and do not form strong relationships with neighbours.
In this context, it is easy to explain why so many people seek to derive great meaning from their work and their organisations. Most spend more time in the workplace with their co-workers than anywhere else. The modern workplace is not just a place where people work, but a place where they form friendships, socialise and attempt to find a sense of fulfilment. It is also a place where people attempt to make sense of and derive meaning from the activities that comprise what we call work and how these activities fit within the greater fabric of our lives. This quest for meaning has prompted the recognition that spirituality in the workplace and spiritual leadership are real issues affecting the quality of life in the modern organisation.
From the perspective of employees, incorporating spirituality into leadership has the potential to create a workplace that is more humane and provides a sense of community and shared purpose. From the perspective of the organisation, it may lead to greater perceptions of trust, organisational support and commitment among employees, which could have positive effects on organisational performance.
However, spirituality in leadership should not only be thought of as a device for boosting performance, but must instead be a genuine philosophical belief of an organisation’s leadership approach.
— The reader is a human resource development lecturer and writer based in Manama, Bahrain
