The Soul of The Soul of leadershipleadership

The Being and Doing The Being and Doing

of Leadershipof Leadership

From One’s SoulFrom One’s Soul

““Leaders are the symbolic soul of Leaders are the symbolic soul of the groups they lead and … great the groups they lead and … great leaders respond from the higher leaders respond from the higher levels of spirit.”levels of spirit.”

Deepak Chopra, “The Soul of Deepak Chopra, “The Soul of Leadership”Leadership”

Being one who leads from Being one who leads from the soul means…the soul means…

• understanding leadership to be a understanding leadership to be a spiritual endeavor.spiritual endeavor.

• understanding leadership to be a understanding leadership to be a calling.calling.

• possessing a keen sense of self-possessing a keen sense of self-awareness – know thyself.awareness – know thyself.

• being aware of one’s shadow self.being aware of one’s shadow self.• being open to surprises.being open to surprises.

The work of one who leads The work of one who leads from the soul involves…from the soul involves…

• acting in a manner that is authentic acting in a manner that is authentic and congruent with the self.and congruent with the self.

• functioning more as a visionary than functioning more as a visionary than manager.manager.

• acting with the courage of one’s acting with the courage of one’s convictions.convictions.

• engaging others collaboratively rather engaging others collaboratively rather than hierarchically.than hierarchically.

• encouraging creativity.encouraging creativity.

The work of one who leads The work of one who leads from the soul involves…from the soul involves…

• valuing relationships as much as tasks valuing relationships as much as tasks and outcomes.and outcomes.

• allowing time for reflection.allowing time for reflection.• focusing on the personal development of focusing on the personal development of

others.others.• building upon people’s strengths rather building upon people’s strengths rather

than correcting their mistakes.than correcting their mistakes.• working for a lasting commitment working for a lasting commitment

rather than a momentary compliance.rather than a momentary compliance.

The work of one who leads The work of one who leads from the soul involves…from the soul involves…

• highlighting the interconnectedness highlighting the interconnectedness of life.of life.

• creating a community built upon creating a community built upon trust, forgiveness, respect, trust, forgiveness, respect, creativity, mutuality, gratitude, and creativity, mutuality, gratitude, and celebration.celebration.

• caring for the soul of others.caring for the soul of others.• caring for one’s own soul.caring for one’s own soul.

– As I talked with leaders across the country, I As I talked with leaders across the country, I found a longing for meaning and comfort. found a longing for meaning and comfort. These jobs of ours as educational leaders are These jobs of ours as educational leaders are difficult and draining. They sap our physical difficult and draining. They sap our physical and moral energy. We have to find ways of and moral energy. We have to find ways of replenishing the supply. The demands of replenishing the supply. The demands of leadership leave us with two choices: leadership leave us with two choices: ‘change our careers or connect to the power ‘change our careers or connect to the power we share with others and the divine.’we share with others and the divine.’

Robert W. Cole and Paul Robert W. Cole and Paul D. HoustonD. Houston

ResourcesResources

• Care for the SoulCare for the Soul, Thomas Moore, Thomas Moore• ““OIC Soul-Leadership,” the OIC GroupOIC Soul-Leadership,” the OIC Group• ““Practicing Soul Leadership,” Janet Practicing Soul Leadership,” Janet

HagbergHagberg• Spirituality in Educational LeadershipSpirituality in Educational Leadership, ,

edited by Paul D. Houston, Alan M. edited by Paul D. Houston, Alan M. Blankstein, Robert W. ColeBlankstein, Robert W. Cole

• ““Spirituality in Management Education: Spirituality in Management Education: A Guide to Resources,” Judith NealA Guide to Resources,” Judith Neal