Spiritually-Based Leadership

Conclusion

It’s too late to argue about whether spirituality belongs in the workplace. Our spiritual values go to work with us, and it’s time we exercise leadership based on them. We are all called to lead the way to a new story about leadership and spiritual values in business. As stated by Michael Ray, professor at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business: The real heroes of today are people dealing with the challenges of a world in chaotic transition. They know the difficulty and suffering that is part of this world. But they also have full faith in their inner creativity or spirit with its infinite intuition, will, joy, strength, and compassion. They know that the joy and promise of life is taking these inner qualities and bringing them forth in a constant quest for the highest for themselves and everyone around them.

When we step up to this challenge, this call, to be business leaders steeped in our spiritual values, our companies will take the lead in building the character—and thus the reputation—required for sustainable growth in this new millennium.

Leaders in world business are the first true planetary citizens. They have worldwide capability and responsibility; their domains transcend national boundaries. Their decisions affect not just economies, but societies; and not just direct concerns of business, but world problems of poverty, environment, and security. World business will be a key actor in the ultimate resolution of the macro-problem. It crosses national boundaries with much more ease than do political institutions and the business corporation is far more flexible and adaptive organization than the bureaucratic structures of government. Willis Harman, author of Global Mind Change