Abstract
Being a leader is tough—the best ones I know consider it a burden more than an honor, a responsibility more than a promotion, a sacrifice more than a perk. Leaders of Catholic schools, in particular, find themselves today in situations of increasing complexity and vulnerability. More and more scholars and practitioners are thus linking leadership to spirituality precisely because of this, perhaps, a connection that was, quite frankly, unimaginable a few decades ago.
This multi-disciplinary approach to leadership—one that includes not only the disciplines of psychology and sociology but also spirituality in particular—has led to deeper investigations into the motivation, values, and behaviors of both leader and follower. Based on my own practice and the experiences of those I have worked with, I have come to believe that spirituality serves as a valuable source for the courage and clear thinking so essential to the challenging task of leadership today.
