Spirituality and Leadership in Action–Martin Luther King, Jr.
Article Summary: Here we profile Martin Luther King, Jr. as an example of someone who has incorporated spirituality into his leadership with great effect. (This is part of a series on spirituality and leadership.) +++ In recent articles, we covered “Spirituality and Leadership—Leading with Heart and Love” and “How to Bring Spirituality into Your Leadership.” We noted that there are seven aspects of spirituality that can be applied to leading—and that love is an important part of the equation when people incorporate spirituality into their leadership. See the images below. Here we profile Martin Luther King, Jr. as a powerful
Spirituality and Leadership in Action—Modern Examples
Article Summary: This article profiles several prominent modern leaders who have incorporated spirituality into their leadership, from JFK and Mother Teresa to Jane Goodall and Indra Nooyi. (This is part of a series on spirituality and leadership.) +++ In recent years, there’s been a growing interest in spirituality and leadership—and the related efforts around workplace wellbeing, purpose, meditation, mindfulness, mental health, and more. In previous articles, “Spirituality and Leadership—Leading with Heart and Love” and “How to Bring Spirituality into Your Leadership,” we noted that there are seven aspects of spirituality that can be applied to leading—and that love is an
Spirituality and Leadership in Action–Historical Examples
Article Summary: This article profiles several prominent historical leaders who have incorporated spirituality into their leadership, from George Washington to the Dalai Lama. (This is part of a series on spirituality and leadership.) +++ In recent decades, with big challenges like a pandemic, climate change, global financial strains, political division, wars, and concerns about the pace of technological change, there’s been a lot of soul-searching about the roles of work and business in our lives. That’s led to growing interest not only in sustainability, conscious business, and stakeholder capitalism but also in spirituality and leadership. In their book, The Healing
How to Bring Spirituality into Your Leadership
Article Summary: Incorporating spirituality into our leadership can be powerful for people and organizations. Here’s how leaders can go about it. (Part two in a series on spirituality and leadership.) +++ Our previous article, “On Spirituality and Leadership—Leading with Heart and Love,” addressed the power and many benefits of spirituality and leadership. Bringing spirituality into our leadership entails focusing on the human spirit—both ours and those of our colleagues. It entails recognizing our interdependence, connecting with our colleagues, honoring our shared values, and working together toward a higher purpose. It involves focusing on people and their heart qualities and positive
On Spirituality and Leadership—Leading with Heart and Love
Article Summary: On the relationship between love, spirituality, and leadership—and leading with heart. The first in a three-part series on spirituality and leadership. + + + Many of the derailers that inhibit the effectiveness of leaders concern matters of the heart and spirit that have gone awry for these leaders. For example, our Leadership Derailers Assessment includes these damaging leadership characteristics: abusive, bullying, burned out, controlling, disconnected, egotistical, hypercritical, intimidating, obsessive, toxic, and addicted to their work. Let’s not pretend that leading is easy. It isn’t. But it’s critical for people in positions of authority to lead themselves first, starting
Love-Based Leadership in Action
Many executives today lead through fear to protect their power and influence. Or they’re closed off and distant from their team. Others lead with love, which entails connecting, caring, recognizing, appreciating, giving, forgiving, having fun, and more. Leading with love can be powerful and even transformative for organizations and the people in them. In recent articles, we covered “The Case for Love-Based Leadership” and “How to Bring Love-Based Leadership to Your Workplace.” Here we provide examples of love-based leadership in action, including: Our own experience with love-based leadership Practitioners on implementing love-based leadership in the workplace Experts and researchers on
How to Bring Love-Based Leadership to Your Workplace
Article Summary: Love-based leadership can be transformative for people and organizations. Here’s how leaders can bring it about in their workplace. +++ Our previous article, “The Case for Love-Based Leadership,” addressed the transformational power and many benefits of love-based leadership. Leading with love entails connecting, caring, showing compassion, recognizing, appreciating, giving, forgiving, having fun, and more. It’s closely tied to what researchers Sigal Barsade and Olivia O’Neill described as “a culture of companionate love—based on the degree to which employees express affection, caring, compassion, and tenderness towards each other.” Given the power of love-based leadership, with all its benefits, the
The Case for Love-Based Leadership
Article Summary: Love-based leadership can help transform ourselves and our organizations. It has many powerful benefits. +++ Love-based leadership belongs in our workplaces, but it’s not what we often think of as love. Love can mean different things. We can love our spouse or child, or a friend, or a book or film, and more. Different Types of Love Ancient Greek philosophers described several different types of love, including: Eros: romantic, passionate, intimate, or sensual love, potentially including sexual attraction and longing. Storge: natural or instinctual love, affection, or allegiance (e.g., of parents or family members but also of
The Four Types of People in Any Organization (Beware the Fourth)
I was co-captain of the soccer team and we were flailing. Things weren’t all bad. We had good players—some great—and were doing well in league matches. But for some reason this season, several players were rebelling against the coach. Perhaps some of it was resentment about the intense focus on fitness, with brutal sprinting drills and long runs. Many players strongly preferred more skill work and scrimmaging over fitness regimens. Maybe some of it was his aloof style, with formality and distance from the players. Some players thought they were better than the coach at knowing the game, reading the
What to Do If You Work for an Unethical Organization
Article Summary: Here we describe what you can do if you work for an unethical organization, including specific tips and actions. +++ What should you do if you work for an unethical organization? In a previous article, we outlined how to determine if you work for an unethical organization. In that article, we described toxic leaders and workplaces. We recapped many of the rationalizations leaders use for unethical behavior. We also included a checklist you can use to determine if you’re working for an unethical organization. If you find yourself working in such an organization, the critical question is what
Are You Working for an Unethical Organization?
Article Summary: Some organizations are unethical. Here we outline how you can determine if your organization is unethical. Our next article will outline what you can do about it. +++ How can you determine if you work for an unethical organization? No organization is perfect. All leaders are fallible. But some organizations are downright unethical, exhibiting a pattern of dishonest or corrupt behavior over time. These organizations repeatedly mistreat their stakeholders. If the organization knowingly harms people, animals, or the environment, it’s unethical. In an unethical organization, there are invariably multiple leaders crossing the line. Unfortunately, many organizations struggle with
Ethical Challenges Across Industries—Implications for You
Some industries are ethically dirty, with widespread corruption, while others are clean. Most are somewhere in between. What are the signs of ethical challenges in an industry—and what to do about it? Many industries get good marks overall, including consulting, education, electronics, health, nonprofits, and more. Other industries are known for having ethical challenges. Examples include aerospace and defense, financial services, construction, cosmetics, energy, mining/extraction, pharmaceuticals, private prisons, information and communications technology, tobacco, and transportation and storage. The point, of course, isn’t that all people and all companies in these industries are corrupt. Far from it. We believe that most
The Best and Worst Bosses: Implications for Leaders
Article Summary: Here we describe the worst bosses and the best bosses—and we suggest what can you do to become more like a best boss. “Bosses shape how people spend their days and whether they experience joy or despair, perform well or badly, or are healthy or sick. Unfortunately, there are hordes of mediocre and downright rotten bosses out there, and big gaps between the best and the worst.” -Robert I. Sutton, Stanford professor Many of us have had bad bosses. Unfortunately, it’s all too common. What makes them bad? Worst Bosses The worst bosses are often caught up
Renewing Yourself Amidst the Chaos
Article Summary: Wise leaders take the time for self-care through a regimen of daily activities, sanctuary, and retreats. The benefits of personal renewal for leaders are enormous, ensuring you’re living a good and meaningful life. +++ Many of us are so tied up in the chaos of our lives that we don’t take proper care of ourselves. We don’t eat healthy foods, get enough sleep or exercise, or take vacations. If we do take time off, we stay on the grid, bringing us right back into the swirl. The Negatives of Poor Self-Care Poor self-care leads to excessive stress,
How Ego and Pride Derail Leaders
Article Summary: If you think you don’t have a problem with your ego, watch out. That’s when leaders are at the greatest risk of losing their bearings and credibility. +++ Aristotle defined the “golden mean” as the desirable middle between the two extremes of excess and deficiency. For leaders, there’s an essential golden mean to find between the pridefulness of excessive ego and the timidity of excessive humility. Ego Our egos are part of our neuro-physiological systems that help protect our self-image and self-worth. The ego is the part of our conscious mind that defines our identity. Our egos
