Almost weekly we hear about corporate and government leaders breaching ethical and moral standards. Indeed, in recent years, corporate corruption and the misrepresentation of the truth has, at times, appeared overwhelming. At the very least, corporate and government scandals suggest that we have a crisis in leadership. This research investigated what some leaders in the corporate arena, who self-identify as having a strong spiritual foundation, had to say about the impact of their foundation on how they approached leadership, in general, and ethical issues, in particular. The research questions that guided this study were: (1) how did self-identified spiritual corporate leaders describe their spirituality? (2) what spiritual practices did they use to develop their spirituality? and (3) what leaders, who claim to have a rich spiritual life, say about the impact of spirituality on their ethical leadership practice? The results of this research mirrored that of Mitroff and Denton (1999). All of the individuals who participated in this research study explained that their spirituality was an important part of their leadership practice. Also the framework of spirituality in their leadership practice provided guidance in making moral and ethical decisions. What is interesting is that the results were the same in spite of different religious affiliations, and included those who did not identify with an organized religion. These findings suggest that it is imperative for MBA programs to address ethical issues from a spiritual perspective while steering clear of sectarian commitments.

Almost weekly, there are news accounts of corporate and government leaders breaching ethical and moral standards. Indeed, in recent years, corporate corruption and misrepresentation of the truth have appeared overwhelming. At the very least, corporate and government scandals suggest that there is currently a crisis in leadership. A Spiritual Audit of Corporate America by Mitroff and Denton, a book called a “landmark contribution” by prominent leadership scholar Warren Bennis, found that individuals and organizations that have a strong sense of spirituality are “far less likely to compromise their basic beliefs and values.” Their data suggested that spirituality may serve as a possible antidote to leaders' unethical behavior. This study built upon Mitroff and Denton's work by examining the role of spirituality in ethical decision making. Specifically, the purpose of this qualitative research was to develop greater understanding of what it is like to be a chief executive officer in the corporate arena who self-identifies as having a strong spiritual foundation. More specifically, this research investigated what 11 CEOs had to say about the impact of spirituality on their approach to leadership in general and ethical issues in particular. The research questions that guided this study asked the following: How do corporate leaders who self-identify as spiritual describe their spirituality? What spiritual practices do they engage in regularly? and What do leaders who claim to have a rich spiritual life say about the impact of spirituality on their approach to ethical problems in leadership? All of the individuals who participated in this study indicated that spirituality is an important part of their leadership practice. They all also noted that their spiritual beliefs provide them with guidance in making moral and ethical decisions. There was considerable consistency on these points, despite different religious affiliations (Catholic, Protestant, Judaism, Muslim) and, in one case, no affiliation with an organized religion. The findings suggested that it may be possible for leadership studies and MBA programs to address ethical issues from a spiritual perspective while steering clear of sectarian commitments.

This original contribution to business ethics brings together chapters by leading European and Indian scholars and practitioners. Addressing issues of human values, ethics, spirituality and leadership in business the authors aim to create a dialogue and interchange between Indian and European cultural traditions. Topics include spiritual orientations to business in Hindu, Buddhist and Christian traditions; the effect of spirituality upon contemporary leadership theories; sustainable business models in India and Europe and a comparison between Indian and European philosophies of leadership. In exploring what India and Europe can offer to one another in the development of ethical business leadership, Ethical Leadership aims to demonstrate ways to achieve sustainability, peace and well-being.

Maximizing the Triple Bottom Line through Spiritual Leadership draws on the emerging fields of workplace spirituality and spiritual leadership to teach leaders and their constituencies how to develop business models that address issues of ethical leadership, employee well-being, sustainability, and social responsibility without sacrificing profitability, growth, and other metrics of performance excellence. While this text identifies and discusses the characteristics necessary to be a leader, its major focus is on leadership—engaging stakeholders and enabling groups of people to work together in the most meaningful ways. The authors offer real-world examples of for-profit and non-profit organizations that have spiritual leaders and which have implemented organizational spiritual leadership. These cases are based on over ten years of research, supported by the International Institute of Spiritual Leadership, that demonstrates the value of the Spiritual Leadership Balanced Scorecard Business Model presented in the book. "Pracademic" in its orientation, the book presents a general process and tools for implementing the model.

The poem beautifully captures the essence of true spiritual leaders and the importance of their guidance and nurturing. It emphasizes the qualities of love, understanding, strength, and integrity that they embody, serving as beacons of light in a world often overshadowed by darkness and turmoil. It also celebrates the courage and conviction of moral and ethical leaders who stand up for what is right, inspiring hope and fostering positive change in society.Ethical leadership in the realm of spirituality often emphasizes compassion, integrity, humility, and service to others. Spiritual leaders are expected to embody these qualities and inspire others to do the same. They often lead by example, promoting ethical behavior, moral values, and a sense of interconnectedness with all beings.That's beautifully expressed in the poem. Spiritual leaders indeed play a crucial role in guiding individuals and society towards higher ethical standards and inner growth. The poem beautifully captures the profound impact of a spiritual, divine leader on our lives. The imagery used, likening their presence to a guiding flame and their words to nourishing nectar, evokes a sense of reverence and inspiration. It celebrates the transformative power of their teachings and the deep connection they foster within us.

The book - which was originally published by Kluwer in 2004 - is a collection of scholarly papers focusing on the role of spirituality and ethics in renewing the contemporary management praxis. The basic argument is that a more inclusive, holistic and peaceful approach to management is needed if business and political leaders are to uplift the environmentally degrading and socially disintegrating world of our age. The book uses diverse value-perspectives (Hindu, Catholic, Buddhist, and Humanist) and a variety of disciplines (philosophy, ethics, management studies, psychology, and organizational sciences) to extend traditional reflections on corporate purpose and focuses on a self-referential organizational-existential search for meaning, identity and success.

Aspects of Leadership is a book that brings together scholars from different disciplines and practitioners from a broad variety of backgrounds to address three key areas: Ethics; Law, and Spirituality. Aspects of Leadership intends to inform leaders, and the general public, about the challenges of ethical decision making, the application of the law of war and the important role of spirituality in the battlefield. Essays are about ethics and armed conflict in the 21st Century. Many of the more complex challenges in operating among foreign populations stem from trying to understand and work with people who follow different religious, political, and legal systems. Around the world, notions of leadership and authority, methods for judging and resolving disputes, and concepts of morally and religiously acceptable behavior vary radically from country to country or even from region to region within a country. Misunderstandings and conflicts between the local population and outside military forces can quickly arise due to different religious or cultural interpretations of events and actions. When handled poorly, such misunderstandings may even escalate to serious hostilities on the part of the local population, resulting in violent conflict and a widening gap between the population and military or security forces in the area."