Authentic Spiritual Leadership
The Mega Church Corporate Model of the New Millennium
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Years of unethical leadership in almost every known business, church, and professional industry continue to plague the United States (U.S.) society. Scharmer (2009) stated, “Spiritual poverty describes the loss of connection to the collective body of humankind” (p. 82). Public scandals included the largest number of bankruptcy filings in U.S. history after discovery of unethical business practices (Thomas, Schermerhorn, & Dienhart, 2004). Highly visible organizational leaders demonstrating severe lapses in ethical judgment created public demands for greater accountability (Dealy & Thomas, 2006) including members of corporate boards (Aguilera, 2005). Inconsistent behaviors from executives increased risks for loss of trust and commitment from followers (Simons, 2002). AOL Time Warner, Duke Energy, Enron, Halliburton, Kmart, Qwest Communications International, Reliant Energy, Tyco, WorldCom, and Xerox are only a few entities known as fallen leaders among the industry (Fry & Slocum, 2008). Leaders who consider themselves models in the current work environment should demonstrate service, motivation, guidance, and encouragement in the midst of turbulence, conflict, innovation, and change (Kouzes & Posner, 2007). However, the current crisis in leadership indicates an abandonment of ethical business practices, standards of integrity, public accountability, and moral reasoning that influence individuals and groups to rationalize lies and deceit (Capps, 2003; Whittington, 2004). Authentic Spiritual leadership offers the new alternative for doing business in corporate America (Fry & Matherly, 2006). “The purpose of spiritual leadership is to create vision, and value congruence across the strategic empowered team, individual levels and, ultimately, to foster higher levels of organizational commitment and productivity” (Fry, 2003, p. 1). The new millennium will support development of spiritual intelligence that fosters ability to access authentic purpose and self (Scharmer, 2009). The mega-church is a new corporation of the 21st century, challenging leaders to join what Scharmer (2009) describes as a cultural-spiritual shift toward the rise of a new consciousness in models of leadership.
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About the Book
The Authentic Spiritual Leadership model encourages development of leaders who demonstrate a combination of authentic and spiritual leadership behaviors. This book has practical implications for leaders and organizations interested in confronting the current crisis in leadership regarding leadership ethics and leadership accountability. Diverse organizations require leaders who actually demonstrate how this unique approach contributes to a renewed focus on the well-being of people, psychological well-being, ethical well-being, sense of purpose, meaning, calling, and spiritual, moral, authentic, transparent and socially responsible behaviors. Organizations seeking to provide spiritual leadership development training could incorporate spiritual leadership into the design. But combining spiritual, authentic, ethical, and transformational leadership models into the training would also determine if other leadership styles exist within the organizational framework. Additional value should include study of spiritual leadership in one of the fastest-growing and sustainable corporations in the twenty-first century: The Mega Church. This book encourages development of a mega church corporate model as the new organizational form that includes authentic spiritual leadership and other leadership styles. The mega church is the new corporation of the twenty-first century, challenging leaders to join what Scharmer (2009) describes as a cultural-spiritual shift toward the rise of a new consciousness in models of leadership.
About the Author
Dr. Pamela Allen currently resides in Houston, Texas and is the chief executive officer of Another Level Life Coach full-service organizational management, consulting, and training company. As an advanced certified facilitator, Dr. Allen is a lead faculty area chairperson and mentor within the field of higher education and has over twenty years of experience facilitating college-level courses with adult student workers obtaining degrees in psychology, organizational leadership, and management. Diverse professional training experiences include leaders and managers in the chemical plant industry, mental health, and higher education. Dr. Allen enjoys a work-life balance by pursuing her passions for singing Christian contemporary music and country and western dancing as a former dance champion.