Spirituality and Leadership Effectiveness: Historical and Philosophical Trends

Abstract

Leaders have assumed their positions of power in a variety of ways: through election, designation, inheritance, and coincidental timing or stealth. Regardless of the means of ascent into power, a leader’s endorsement is well regarded. The research findings of Covey (1989), Bennis (1989), Greenleaf (1973), Deming (1986), Drucker (1996), Bolman and Deal (1991), Fox (1995), and others support a strong correlation between leadership and the success or failure of a community, business, or organization. Hence, because these two elements appear to be inextricably tied to one another, it is paramount to the group’s welfare that the leader be one who is capable and trustworthy of promoting the communal mission. The sweeping changes in our country’s social, political, and economic climate at the end of the 20th century brought with them a pervasive mistrust in leaders of government, businesses, and other institutions including schools. In reviewing the trends in leadership and effective schools, this study concerned the traits of effective leaders and the emerging perception of the importance of spirituality to leadership. This article, reviewing the most recent scholarly and popular literature on leadership, is the first in a series of articles based on a current study of leadership and spirituality.