The Role of Spirituality in the Practice of Adult Education Leaders
The Role of Spirituality in the Practice of Adult Education Leaders
复制标题
灵性在成人教育领导者实践中的作用
DOI：
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发表时间：
2006
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
Bradley Courtenay
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
J. J. Fleming;Bradley Courtenay
近年来，一些商业和领导力学者推荐了一种受精神影响的领导力实践。这些建议是基于个人的证词和轶事，很少进行实证研究来证实这些说法。在成人教育领域，还没有关于领导力和灵性的实证研究。本研究的目的是探讨成人教育领导者的实践中的灵性的作用。它被设计成一个现象学的调查，重点是领导者如何定义灵性，灵性如何影响他们的实践，以及他们是否采用了共同的领导风格。这项研究的参与者发现，他们不可能将自己的灵性与日常的领导实践分开，因为它是个人身份的组成部分。这些领导人认为灵性是一种深深的个人追求，以与更高的存在，与其他人以及所有创造物的连接网络为基础。他们不相信受灵性影响的领导与政教分离相冲突，因为他们认为灵性是一个独特的概念，与宗教不同，但与宗教有关。虽然样本中的宗教信仰各不相同，但对领导力的基本精神理解是相似的。他们谈到为更大的利益而工作，支持同事的个人成长和发展。他们坚定地致力于社会正义，并强调诚实、公平和同情心在工作场所的重要性。在领导实践中，灵性提供了一种召唤或使命感，灌输了一种道德框架，并在挑战时期作为一种资源。灵性塑造了他们对权力的看法，影响了他们的决策，并影响了与同事的沟通。研究参与者报告的领导风格各不相同。一些参与者描述了仆人式领导，但也有团队，交易，变革和情境领导。参与者的领导风格似乎与他们对灵性的看法直接相关。
In recent years some business and leadership scholars have recommended a spiritually influenced practice of leadership. These recommendations are based on personal testimony and anecdote with very few empirical studies conducted to substantiate claims. There have been no empirical studies of leadership and spirituality within the field of adult education. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of spirituality in the practice of adult education leaders. It was designed as a phenomenological inquiry focused on how leaders defined spirituality, how spirituality influenced their practice, and if they employed a common style of leadership. The participants in this study found it impossible to separate their spirituality from their daily practice of leadership for it was integral to personal identity. These leaders perceived spirituality as a deeply personal search for meaning grounded in a web of connection with a Higher Being, with other people, and with all of creation. They did not believe that spiritually influenced leadership conflicted with the separation of church and state because they perceived spirituality as a distinct concept, differing from, but related to religion. Although religious beliefs varied in the sample, the basic spiritual understandings regarding leadership were similar. They spoke of working for the greater good and supporting the personal growth and development of coworkers. They were adamant in their commitment to social justice and stressed the importance of honesty, fairness, and compassion in the workplace. In the practice of leadership, spirituality provided a calling or sense of vocation, instilled an ethical framework, and served as a resource in times of challenge. Spirituality shaped their perception of power, influenced their decision making, and impacted communication with coworkers. Styles of leadership reported by the study participants varied. Servant leadership was described by some participants, but there were also team, transactional, transformational, and situational leaders. The style of leadership practiced by participants seemed directly related to their perception of spirituality.