Review:
The subtitle of this book on leadership, Setting Hearts on Fire, caused me to buy
A Spirituality for Leaders at a
library book sale, even though the date is older than the books I usually
review. The authors “suggest that individual spirituality is a crucial part of
leading and that a spiritual model for leading can be successfully woven with
modern leadership theory and practice…They attempt to reflect on leadership
models in light of the Christian spirit of leadership.” (A Spirituality for Leaders,
Setting Hearts on Fire, Timothy Brown and Patricia Sullivan, Alba House,
1997, pp.viii. xv) Their goal is valid and there are numerous allusions
to other authors and theories of leadership, as they promise. The book does not have much fresh
material, however, and seems to fall quite short of their intent to set
leaders’ hearts on fire. ‘Tis a pity.
Mary Lou Codman-Wilson, Ph.D.
11/9/13
Excerpts:
“Christian men and women find that it is not easy to
articulate a leadership model when they are struggling to balance an authentic
Christian life with a professional life in a world characterized by
self-gratification, self-fulfillment and intolerance…How can Christians assume
a leadership style that is based the gospel message?...In this book we …it
might be useful to keep these questions in mind: What kind of leader was
Christ? What was his leadership style? How did he act in situation that
demanded his leadership?” (pp.
xiv, xvi).
“The spiritual leader
empowers…Empowering others allows them to freely express energy, talents
and gifts that will lead to a balance of power within the organization…The key
to empowering is taking on the Spirit of Christ [which is gained through
prayer]…and taking on Christ’s mind and heart and also his taking on his
leadership style” (pp.
15, 17, 19).
“The spiritual leader
dialogues [in] an all-out effort to establish mutual respect and understanding…Dialogue
must be open, honest and forthright…Pope Paul VI identified four basic
characteristic essential to any real and fruitful dialogue: clarity, humility,
trust and prudence…In practice, real dialogue with God requires listening to
one another, to Christ and to the world around us. This active listening of
leaders means getting involved in other people’s problems in their time of
need. It means taking risks and sharing and acting out of love” (pp. 35, 37,38, 41).
“The spiritual side of leadership is renewal…
Renewing is one of leadership’s most important tasks. Leaders need to be
attentive to the times and stir themselves to action if they wish to break from
or avoid the status quo…Leaders need to find ways to awaken the potential
within persons and organizations and to bring fourth new levels of performance
and life…A wise leader knows when and how to initiate change that will preserve
the beliefs, values and mission of persons and of the organization. ‘Hold on to
the old as long as it is good. Embrace the new as soon as it gets better’” (pp. 62, 63).
“Renew means to make new spiritually. A renewed spirit calls
for a conversion of heart and mind…it means opening to the Spirit in changing
times. It means surviving on the strength of the Spirit in a controversial or
political environment. It means empowering others to contribute to the success
of organizational renewal…Through prayer leaders turn inward to gather
strength, replenish, distress, discern God’s will and better come to know their
own motivations, emotions and values” (pp. 64, 67).
“The spiritual leader
shapes a vision that is achievable, clear and compelling – simple enough to
evoke commitment and credible enough to be accepted as realistic and
obtainable…In A Passion for Excellence,
Peters and Austin stress that successful leaders root their visions within the
reality of the times and within the grasp of the people. Leaders with vision
love what they do and care passionately in sharing a vision. These soaring
ideals and values are gifts that…set fire to the hearts of others in shaping
and living the realities of a vision” (p. 73). “Whether people will commit to or
invest themselves in a vision depends upon their trust – or lack of it – in
leaders. This trust, in turn, depends upon how they perceive the leaders
expertise as well as how consistent the leaders’ actions are with their
statements” (p. 74).
“The spiritual leader
instills hope…Followers hope for leaders to affirm their dignity, worth and
aspirations…The leader who instills hope gives followers something to live and
work for in their personal life and work. Hope needs to be felt in the face of
risks, innovations and challenges…Hope in the future is connected with our
ability to imagine. The Christian community is one that must hope together in
the face of suffering, evil and death” (pp. 81, 84, 85).
“The spiritual leader
sets fire to others’ hearts by exemplifying wholeness in the personal and
professional dimensions of daily life…The soul is the resting place for values,
purpose in life, and the kind of person one wants to be. Good ethical behavior
comes from the soul…The only true means to integrity is to base one’s life on
the moral authority of the Gospel with all that such a commitment implies” (p. 97).
“Transforming the leadership of a Christian
leader…[involves] taking time to let the Spirit of God set one’s own heart on
fire before going out as a leader to transform and set the world on
fire…Christian leaders are called to a level of transformational leadership
that can only be achieved through a prayer life…and breaking bread with others.
In the celebration of the Eucharist, Christian leaders and followers offer the
life giving bread and saving cup in memory of Christ’s death and resurrection” (pp.108, 109, 110).