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Can Spirituality in Leadership Create High-Performance Organizations?

Can Spirituality in Leadership Create High-Performance Organizations?

Rosetta Stevens | 2022

Abstract

Technology has changed the dynamics of the world significantly and electrified the marketplace and society. The rapid pace of technological advancement cultivates an environment of survival of the fittest in the business industry. To meet the demands of society and excel their competitors, organizations must move to become a prodigy of high performance. They must enhance their operation to achieve sustainability; likewise, it is vital to prepare for any unforeseen or unexpected disruption to the cultural norm.COVID-19 serves as the best paradigm for unexpected disruption to society and organizational habits in this era. It forcefully caused an abrupt cultural shift in communities, organizations, and businesses. The need for a culture shift in organizations made more prominent than ever before; leadership acumen has become the deciding factor for organizations’ success. Unexpected disruption summons leaders to execute skills essential to connecting and collaborating with followers to apply creative and innovative ideas to move the organization forward. Deploying a leadership style that produces expeditious results to transform an organization is necessary. Leaders must commit to developing high performers if they intend to create a high-performance organization successfully. Introducing a source that contains ingredients to form high performers is essential. Can the introduction of spirituality in leadership serve as the antidote to creating High-Performance Organizations (HPOs)? This document will illustrate that spirituality has proven valuable in many career paths and contains the necessary ingredients to champion leaders’ success. It will also demonstrate that introducing spirituality into leadership can cultivate high-performers with the potential to create a high-performance organization.

Keywords: Spirituality, Leaders, Leadership, and High-performance organizations (HPOs)

Kindling Change: Starts with YOU! Cracking the Change Formula & Creating New Realities!

Kindling Change: Starts with Leadership YOU! Cracking the Change Formula & Creating New Realities!

Cinque Nathaniel Parker | 2022

Introduction to Mosaic Leadership: A Model to Shift Thinking and Unify the Body of Christ

Introduction to Mosaic Leadership: A Model to Shift Thinking and Unify the Body of Christ

Nicole Pertillar | 2022

Abstract

The Introduction to Mosaic Leadership Program addresses the increasing need for Christian leaders equipped with the skills necessary to navigate the painfully polarized Church and the Marketplace. The program answers the question, of how can Christian leaders begin to intentionally and effectively lead in ways that bring Believers together regardless of race or polity.

The objectives of the Introduction to Mosaic Leadership Program are as follow:

The Mosaic Leadership Course has three main objectives:

  • Provide data on diversity in the Church and prevailing thoughts around diversity and unity
  • Present a Model of Leadership that aims to increase critical thought and honoring dialogue as Christian leaders navigate their roles in and outside the Church
    • Within the Mosaic Leadership Model, the program creator pays significant attention to directing Believers back to their identity in Christ in order to address these issues from their authority in Christ and position in Heavenly Places. Ephesians 2:6
    • The program creator also urges Believers to recognize the ineffectiveness of addressing the challenges surrounding unity in the Church without the covering of worship and creativity that facilitates heart healing and carries the very presence of God.
  • Present various methods used to address the racial divide in the Church and establish Best Practices for Mosaic Leaders along with breaking down the mindset needed for such leadership.

The Mosaic Leadership Program was designed to make leaders aware of current reconciliation efforts and provide the tools and lenses from which they can view them to deepen their understanding of the issues and improve their confidence in addressing the pervasive racial divide in the Body.

Leadership Happens When You Move: Inclusive Dyadic Relationships

Leadership Happens When You Move: Inclusive Dyadic Relationships

James A. Prokop | 2022

Abstract

This manuscript aims to recognize a common leadership problem identified within the Leader-Member Exchange theory and apply a servant leadership framework to solve it. This work explores leaders’ relationship with followers and the perceptions, behaviors, and group dynamics that create a bias between people and the formation of in and out-groups. This manuscript addressed the impacts of these groups on the parties involved. Furthermore, the manuscript identifies an application of the basic tenets associated with servant leadership to help facilitate an inclusive leadership environment.

Moreover, the identified tenets are derived from the 1977 text by Robert Greenleaf on leadership. His groundbreaking concepts on leadership are the basis for many studies and approaches toward leadership. These tenets positively affect an organization and can solve the leadership problems identified by LMX with “in and out-groups”. These are organized and detailed for this solution and are categorized into the five characteristics of vision, care, learning, communication, and action as an inclusive leadership approach. An inclusive leadership applies leadership practices and characteristics that bring most of an organization into a single in-group, creating a path to solve this common leadership problem. Lastly, this manuscript explores a universal definition of leadership to establish a baseline understanding of leadership to approach the identified problem and solution.

Keywords: Leadership, dyadic relationships, in-groups, out-groups, servant leadership

Develop U

Develop U

Jimmy Ragan | 2022

Abstract

Personal development is critical for any individual to continue to grow, develop, and be successful both personally and professionally. Personal development should be a partnership between both the individual and the organization they are a part of knowing that both will greatly benefit from any and all strategic personal development objectives. Within any organization, for-profit or non-profit, there needs to be a strategy and an action plan towards the development of all staff and volunteers utilizing an individual development plan.

Many times, within any organization, only senior leadership is given the opportunity for any type of development, whether it be personal or professional. The Individual Development Plan Workshop will allow senior leadership, employees, and volunteers to explore the value of individual development plans, why they are needed to strengthen the individual and the organization at the same time. The workshop will specifically focus on personal development, self-efficacy, and action steps to become a more effective individual both personally and professionally.

The project goals are to facilitate a development training that will bring clarity and awareness to the value of individual development plans and how Individual development plans not only bring value to the individual but also to the organization (for-profit, non-profit, or church) and the leadership of the organization. The sessions will provide participants with fundamental personal development lessons, understanding theory, style, value, and the importance in believing in oneself. At the same time understanding the importance of working with and complementing the vision and direction of the organization. The workshop will be engaging and interactive sessions for all attendees.

Handbook for School Leadership Teams: Promoting Diversity and Equity through School and Home Partnership

Handbook for School Leadership Teams: Promoting Diversity and Equity through School and Home Partnership

Alicia Ramsey | 2022

Abstract

Family involvement is essential for students to have consistent academic success. Public and private schools understand the benefits of family involvement, yet there is a disconnect between students’ school and home environments. AR Consulting created and administered a school climate and culture survey. Fifty-three families completed the 12-question study. The survey asked the participants questions about the climate and culture of their students’ schools. The survey was sent to eighty families with students enrolled in grades K-12. The research was then studied to determine what families need to have a positive partnership with their child’s school. Results show families desire timely and detailed communication, opportunities to participate in critical decision-making, quality parent-teacher conferences, and PTA/PTO groups. Schools with a positive school culture have a shared responsibility, where educators and students are committed to and respect the relationship. Cross-cultural leadership incorporates bridging the gap between school and home in the school vision. The handbook shares how equitable, and diverse partnerships can be developed with acculturation amongst staff, creating school leadership teams, implementing learning communities, and providing professional coaching for teachers and leaders. Professional coaching versus the traditional teacher mentoring programs gives school staff ownership in solving their problems; it is not telling them what to do. The manual shares figures and facts on how to best support minority families, immigrant families, students with an individual education plan (IEP), students with a 504, and gift/talented students. Creating thriving school learning communities with ethical transformational leadership helps to promote diverse and equitable partnerships.

Keywords: school climate, school culture, diversity, ethical leadership, professional coaching, learning communities

The Black American Church: Leadership Dispensation and Challenges

The Black American Church: Leadership Dispensation and Challenges

Khandicia N. Randolph | 2022

Abstract

The purpose of this book seeks to examine the leadership of the Black Church through a critical and theoretical lens utilizing historical and anthropological foci to better identify and understand some of the challenges within the paramount institution and its attrition to the Black American community at large and provide appropriate suggestions and generating frameworks for addressing the challenges.The Church has always played a pivotal role in the identity, development, and progression of Black American culture. Leadership and organizational challenges within the Church pervasively matriculate to other Black spaces, historically Black organizations, and in a broader societal context. Due to the Church’s historical and ethnographic context for Blacks in America, many of the challenges faced in the Church go unrecognized, unspoken thus unattended. This manuscript endeavors to identify the challenges, and flaws through research and data, to provide solutions through practical and theoretical implementations to some shortcomings for the betterment of the Church and culture.

The interconnectedness of culture and religion for Blacks in America established a gargantuan impact factor on the Church and its leaders. This manuscript examines the pervading effects of the influence through leadership dispensation. It also explores the understanding of leadership through the lens of Black Christianity, deriving that the foundation of leadership in the Black community was primarily circumscribed by the influence of the Church as conglomerate collectivism of almost 500 years of the history and culture of Africans, African descendants, and members of the African diaspora in what is now America, who contributed to the ideal of the Black Church. Furthermore, it highlights the responsibility of leaders within the Black Church to their followers and the community. The qualitative data research results indicate a disconnect and disjointedness between the Black Church, members, and leadership and organizational development theoretical frameworks and implementations. The critical analysis provided is not one of condemnation but likened to a vital performance review through member experiences barred against applicable leadership and organizational development barometers.

Mentoring and Adult Relationships (MAR) District Initiative

Mentoring and Adult Relationships (MAR)District Initiative

Sophia Rudisill-Holmes | 2022

Abstract

Caring adult relationships provide a safe, brave space for young people to unpack life as they navigate complex systems, manage change and make decisions. Being seen, known, and loved can provide the confidence needed to persist and develop self-efficacy. Research suggests, “1 in 3 young people in the U.S. will reach the age of 19 without having a mentor. This is the mentoring gap in the United States[1].” Mentoring is critical to strengthening the positive outcomes of a young person’s opportunities and access to any path they choose.

The Mentoring andAdult Relationships (MAR) Initiative is designed to impact a district-wide strategy to ensure that over 77 thousand Baltimore City Public School students have a caring adult supporting them. The project included the strategic planning and implementation of an initiative in an urban school district. Specifically practiced through strategy development, management, and support for City Schools’ mentoring and other adult relationships initiatives, ensuring that every student has adults and a support plan enabling them to be linked to post-secondary opportunities after high school completion. The data analysis of the mentoring landscape in Baltimore, aligned with proven local and national practices paired with stakeholder feedback, informed adjustments to the initial strategic plan, and improved implementation.

As the initiative lead, I designed the strategic plan to lay the foundation of ensuring internal district alignment, a feasible infrastructure, the relaunching of a district-led mentoring program, and the scoping of other possible programmatic strategies by June 2022. Consequently, the formation of a team and strategy launched in four (4) phases in the first four months, supported by data analysis and strategic planning, implementation, coordination of sustainable and streamlined infrastructure, and a base for codifying scalable outputs.

[1] Advocacy resources. MENTOR. (2021, December 16). Retrieved February 7, 2022, from https://www.mentoring.org/resource/advocacy-resources/

The Secret Sauce of Servant Leadership

The Secret Sauce of Servant Leadership

Peter Scheuermann | 2022

Abstract

Today’s leaders often struggle with determining what the right path is for their leadership journey. What education, skillsets, requirements, and contacts should they develop to achieve leadership effectiveness and success? Where do leaders begin to find the right path or guide to achieve leadership success? Servant leadership is an approach everyone can apply both in their work and personal lives. Servant leadership is a leader’s complete focus on the follower, for their success and full benefit so much so, the leader will sacrifice their own personal gain and glory. While this approach to leadership is not the only method, everyone can improve by applying a few of its essential characteristics, making themselves more effective and successful in their leadership. This paper addresses these questions by reviewing leadership concepts and topics and identifying the required ingredients needed to develop the secret sauce of servant leadership for today’s modern leader to employ. This manuscript was born out of reading and studying several scholarly publications, academic research, and numerous books on organizational development, leadership theories, and practical application content.

Over the last sixty years, servant leadership has emerged as one of the prominent leadership styles for leaders to adopt and employ for organizational success. However, the primary focus of servant leadership is not the success of the organization or the leader, but the follower or individual. Servant leadership focuses on the individual and their ability to grow every day, pursuing self-actualization, and experiencing a life changed for their greater good and all those around them. How is this accomplished given the billions of people who exist on the globe today? Love. Love of people. Love is this primary ingredient.

This manuscript is designed to help either a new leader just beginning in their leadership journey or someone who has been in leadership roles (people manager or project related) to quickly understand the topics and start employing recommended application actions and behaviors. These chapters in this manuscript are designed to serve as a launching pad to ignite and quickly start a leader down the path of servant leadership. Each chapter is structured with four sections. The first section provides a definition and summary overview of the concept, supported by scholarly research. The second section offers modern-day examples over the last century in individuals and organizations that lived or live out the idea or topic that everyone can relate to. This includes a brief insightful summary of the leader or known organization and the concept or topic they display. The third section is an in-person interview with someone who lives out these characteristics in their profession. Finally, the fourth section is a recommended practical application of the concept that the leader can employ in his or her organization. While this manuscript is written with a strong Christian and biblical perspective including references and examples, the goal is for all readers to gain understanding as to what servant leadership is, and how it can be applied and lived out in everyone’s life, no matter spiritual affiliation, position, financial status, or location. The following paragraphs provide a summary of each chapter presented in this manuscript.

Leading from Within: Women Who Inspire

Leading from Within: Women Who Inspire

Jessica Schloemp | 2022

Abstract

How can anyone understand where they should be going without knowing where they have been. This book takes a closer look at the past, present, and future state of women in leadership through research, documentation, and personal experiences from the author. Women in leadership are underrepresented in many industries, especially the insurance industry. Leading from Within: Women Who Inspire takes a counter-cultural approach to women in leadership and provides encouragement and reassurance to women leaders. This topic oftentimes turns controversial, but throughout the book, readers will be challenged to get back to the basics of leadership practice, take the pride away from the argument, and lead from a pure selfless heart.

Instead of degenerating the opposite sex as society likes to normalize, the book takes a positive approach and embraces what God gave you. One of our most prominent voices in society is social media, and our culture places it before all else. What is the truth? Where do women in leadership stand? The research and documentation provided will help shed light on these questions. In chapter three, it emphasizes honing in on your superpowers. God gave everyone their own superpowers, do not try to conform to someone else’s but lead through your own. The author provides helpful tips and tricks to assist leaders in improving their leadership techniques and strategies.

Throughout the book, a biblical approach provides leaders with an outlook on how they should act and treat other people. In Galatians 3:28 it states “there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” The focused biblical approach is unapologetically positive and counter-cultural. Chapter four discusses how you can follow the word and not the world. Leaders cannot dehumanize what God intended for leadership but place faith in their journey with God. As you read through, you, too, can become an intentional advocate for the future of women in leadership.