The spiritual leadership theory involves a model that incorporates theories of workplace spirituality, to create value congruence across individual levels to foster higher levels of organizational commitment and productivity. This has become a growing area of research and inquiry according to the leadership quarterly special issue by fry. The influence of managers spiritual mindfulness on. Faithful leadership in the marketplace begins with the question, does spirituality make a difference in leadership. The application and relevance of spiritual leadership in. Fry s 2003 model of spiritual leadership is widely accepted and used among scholars across the globe.
The two samples were equivalent by sex, age, education level and work experience. It is well known that leaders through role modeling, behaviors, and other means can alter the selfconcepts, attitudes, goals, and beliefs of. Spiritual leadership and organizational performance. Bezy abstract this is the report of a delphi study designed to identify the characteristics, behaviors, and work environments of spiritual leaders. Slt is a causal theory of spiritual leadership based on vision, altruistic love and hopefaith that is grounded in an intrinsic motivation theory. Fairholm 1996, 1998 was one of the first scholars to put the terms spiritual and leadership together to explain spirituality in context of workplace leadership, and since then others have attempted to validate his model in order to move the field toward a theory of spiritual leadership e. The purpose of spiritual leadership, according to the author, is to create vision and value congruence, and ultimately foster higher levels of organizational. Unlike fry 2003, kriger and seng attempted to define religious faith as a. The spiritual leadership is about the role of employees in creating value for the organization fry, 2003. In order to find out the perception levels of scale, principals performed spiritual leadership behaviors by employees a draft scale, based on fry spiritual leadership th eory fry, 2003, has been developed. Preliminary validarion of frys spiritual leadership model in. A panel of philosophers, writers, business leaders, non. Spiritual leadership concepts were linked directly or indirectly with 21 of the 35 toplevel concepts in the leading transformation framework latham, 20, p.
Increased attention has been paid to issues related to spirituality in the workplace. Here are six characteristics that identify most spiritual leaders. The influence of spiritual leadership on spiritual well. Maximizing the triple bottom line through spiritual. Implications of spiritual leadership on organizations. The definition of spirituality provided by fry 2003, 2005 includes two essential elements in a persons life.
Findings suggest the human spirit is potentially an asset and liability to the exercise of leadership. Perhaps the most wellknown approach here is fry s 2003 spiritual leadership theory slt. The potential of spiritual leadership in workplace. There is the suggestion that an increase in spiritual development will result in enhanced leadership effectiveness arnold et al. Spiritual leadership as a paradigm for organizational. Faith anchors leadership in deeply held belief about the world, people, and the purpose of work. Fry s 2003 essential keys to spiritual leadership include creating a vision where leaders and. A spiritual leader helps others in the organization maintain their inner life and considers their differing needs in a way so that all members can have genuine care, concern, and appreciation for both themselves and others. Spiritual leadership is also not about solving problems.
Pdf spiritual leadership and organizational performance. Spiritual leadership and its relationship with quality of. Frontiers the effect of spiritual leadership on employee. Fry 2003 makes the point that religion usually involves spirituality, but spirituality does not need religion to be meaningful. The potential of spiritual leadership in workplace spirituality.
A research project submitted to the gordon institute of business science, university of pretoria, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of masters of business administration. The purpose of spiritual leadership is to create vision and value congruence across the strategic, empowered team, and individual levels and, ultimately, to foster higher levels of. History, theory, and research margaret benefiel andover newton theological school louis w. The aim of this study was to examine the validity of the spiritual leadership model proposed by fry 2003. But, there is little attention given to the research on. According to fry 2003, the spiritual leadership theory is confluent and the major proposition of the theory is that. Spiritual leadership as an integrating paradigm for.
A causal theory of spiritual leadership is developed within an intrinsic motivation model that incorporates vision, hopefaith, and altruistic love, theories of workplace spirituality, and. May 30, 2016 fry lw 2003 toward a theory of spiritual leadership. Fry lw 2003 toward a theory of spiritual leadership. Examining the concept of spiritual leadership without acknowledging the contributions made by fry would be difficult if not impossible. Spiritual leadership motivates members of an organization in a working environ. A conceptual model and research proposal gt freeman regent university with confidence shaken in contemporary business leadership, there has been an increased interest in greenleafs 1977 servant leadership theory, which. In this paper, then, i advance a model of authentic leadership that embraces an identity. Then we integrate this character development model into spiritual leadership theory fry, 2003, 2009 to provide readers with an integrative, empirically supported, and practical guide to develop leader character. Fry tarleton state universitycentral texas, 1901 south clear creek road, killeen, tx 76549, usa accepted 3 september 2003 abstract a causal theory of spiritual leadership is developed within an intrinsic motivation model that. Leadership undoubtedly has a major role in the outcome of any pro ject in which all identified leadership styles have variable outcomes under different situations khan et al. Preliminary validarion of frys spiritual leadership model. Spiritual leadership theory the theory of fry 2003 defines spiritual leadership.
The challenge for todays leaders is to discern the difference between the latest leadership fads and gods timeless truths e. The application and relevance of spiritual leadership in the jse top 40 companies. To be effective, leaders must behave differently in different situations fry, 2003 1. Spiritual leadership theory slt is a causal theory for organizational transformation designed to create an intrinsically motivated, learning organization. Spiritual leadership theory the theory of fry 2003 defines spiritual leadership as comprising the values, attitudes, and behaviors that are necessary to intrinsically motivate ones self and others so that they have a sense of spiritual survival through calling and membership. Knippenberg, 2005, and spiritual leadership theory fry, 2003, 2005. Spiritual leadership comprises the values, attitudes, and behaviors required to intrinsically motivate ones self and others in order to have a sense of spiritual wellbeing through calling and membership, i. Spiritual leadership taps into the fundamental needs of both leader and follower for spiritual survival through calling a sense that ones life has meaning and makes a difference. Goertzen and barbuto2001 stated that spiritual leadership ensures. A proposed conceptual model, adapted from the literature, presents spiritual beliefs. Spiritual leadership is not restricted to pastors and missionaries.
Any theory of spiritual leadership, therefore, should incorporate theoretical components of workplace spirituality and spiritual survival within a motivation theory framework. Aug 29, 2016 spiritual leadership and workplace spirituality are in their infancy, and consequently, theoretical knowledge related to this subject in western religious theology and practiced leadership ethics and values is limited 1,2. Fry 2003 mentions that spiritual leadership is a causal theory based on an intrinsic motivation model that incorporates vision, hope, faith, and altruistic love. The construct of spiritual leadership may be viewed as a branch of the broader fields of leadership and workplace spirituality. However, it also represents a significant departure from other models in that it intentionally establishes motivational and spiritual bases of authentic leadership. Relationship between spiritual leadership and organizational. In spiritual leadership theory, spirituality downloaded by louis fry at. At the same time, making this distinction can help identify who the spiritual leaders in your organization are. A conceptual model and research proposal gt freeman. Spiritual leadership can be seen as a research area in the wider context of spirituality in the workplace blackaby, 2001. Toward a theory of spiritual leadership sciencedirect. The influence of spiritual leadership on spiritual wellbeing.
The theory of spiritual leadership fry, 2003 is grounded in an. Fry 2003 exp lains that leadership plays a strategic tool to motivate the staff to enhance their potential growth and development. Spiritual leadership as a model for performance excellence. According to fry 2003 spiritual leadership is the values, attitudes, and behaviors that are necessary to intrinsically motivate ones self and others so that they have a sense of spiritual survival through calling and membership p. Fry 2003 developed a causal theory of spiritual leadership based on vision, altruistic love and hopefaith that is grounded in an intrinsic motivation theory.
A call to being a spiritual leader in the workplace. Distinguishing spiritual leadership from other forms of leadership can free people from unrealistic expectations of some leaders. Specifically, with regard to the spiritual leadership literature, at least one issue is critical to its advancement construct development. The study also suggests possible relationships between the human spirit and mental faculties such as iiat4 ition, wisdom. Fry defines spiritual leadership as comprising the values, attitudes, and behaviours that are necessary to intrinsically motivate ones self and others so that they have a sense of spiritual survival through calling and membership fry, 2003. A persons spirit is the vital principle or animating force traditionally believed to be the intangible, lifeaffirming force in the self and in all human beings. Finally, fry s 2003 toward a theory of spiritual leadership article presented a developed model for spiritual leadership.
Fry, 2003 provides a powerful framework for addressing this need. Toward a theory of spiritual leadership semantic scholar. Spiritual leadership is the responsibility of every true, biblical christian. The majority of spiritual leadership literature is reflective of fry s spiritual leadership theory. Spiritual leadership and its relationship with quality of work life. It is not about taking the lead and having others follow. One way to answer this question is to see spirituality as the integrator of christian values and business practice. Fry 2005 hypothesized that those practicing spiritual leadership at the personal level will score high on both life satisfaction in terms of joy, peace and serenity and the ryff and singer 2001 dimensions of well being.
Like workplace spirituality, the spiritual leadership literature is in the. Nursing leaders are required to use suitable leadership models to achieve organizational goals and to show reliable paths to nurses in this process. Transcendence of self is manifest in a sense of calling or destiny, and the belief that ones activities, including work, have meaning and value beyond being instrumental for obtaining economic benefits or self. Fry 2003 proposes a theory of spiritual leadership, with an intrinsic model that includes variables such as vision, hopefaith, inner life, altruistic love and calling making a difference. The source of spiritual leadership is an inner life or mindful practice.
However, these attempts to date have not yet gone to the root of the. Spiritual leadership fosters spiritual wellbeing, which then positively influences employee life satisfaction, corporate. Organizational spiritual leadership focuses on group relations between leaderfollower, followerleader, and peerpeer as being dynamic and reciprocal over time. Fry s spiritual leadership model is a causal theory that is developed from the intrinsic motivation theory, and is established on features such as hope, faith, and altruistic love. Maximizing the triple bottom line through spiritual leadership draws on the emerging fields of workplace spirituality and spiritual leadership to teach leaders and their constituencies how to develop business models that address issues of ethical leadership, employee wellbeing, sustainability, and social responsibility without sacrificing profitability, growth, and other metrics of.
It is not about being or becoming an authority, an expert, a director, or a head. A causal theory of spiritual leadership is developed within an intrinsic motivation model that incorporates vision, hopefaith, and altruistic love, theories of workplace spirituality, and spiritual survival. As mentioned earlier, the areas of focus in this regard are. Chapter 3 workplace spirituality and spirituality based. Fry 2003 proposes a theory of spiritual leadership with an. Spiritual leadership is not a role or activity reserved for a select few.
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