Integrative Framework for Spirituality in Leadership

Abstract

The panorama of leaders, among other things gives a resounding message that we can win and do so using ethical means and more importantly share our wins and make everyone a winner in the global family. This indeed is a true culmination of the Vedic dictum. ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (for those with magnanimous minds, the world indeed is but one family). A Chuck Feeney reaching out to an impoverished child in far flung Vietnam, or a Warren Buffett’s project ameliorating the lives of people in distant Africa, or a Devi Shetty bringing the state of the art medical care within the reach of a poor Karnataka farmer, all of them stand out as winners in the truest sense because they take great delight in making everyone victorious. When the champion leaders embrace such an all-inclusive world view, they set an example for the rest which is worth emulating. The realization would dawn that one’s ultimate triumph lies not in surpassing the rest in breasting the tape but in elevating others too to the victory podium and enhancing the overall level of societal consciousness. Indeed, this is the distinguishing hallmark of all great leaders, who redefine their personal success in terms of success of their communities.

In this working paper, we have attempted to provide a unifying framework to better understand the spiritual dimension of leadership by broad-basing and reinterpreting the meanings of Dharma, Yagna and Yoga, into the leadership context of contemporary organizations. In the process, we have developed a unifying framework that has been presented in this paper. It is expected that this work will enthuse many more scholars to explore these verdant pastures, which area capable of launching leadership research into a much higher trajectory.