Skip to main content

Spiritual Disciplines for Transformation, Renewal, and Sustainable Leadership

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Book cover Handbook of Personal and Organizational Transformation
  • 2719 Accesses

Abstract

Recently there has been a great deal of focus on creating sustainable organizations. A commonly cited definition of sustainability is “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” In this chapter, I take the notion of sustainability and apply it to individual leaders by addressing these questions: How can leaders meet their current responsibilities without compromising their future capacity to lead? How can leaders excel in their leadership roles without sacrificing family and personal well-being? I approach these questions from a Biblical perspective, and this chapter begins with a comprehensive definition of leadership that is based on scriptures. Drawing on my own experience and using life lessons from several leaders, I then discuss a set of spiritual disciplines that can prevent leader derailment and set the leader up for a sustainable leadership that has positive impact now and for generations to come.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Barton RH (2004) Invitation to silence and solitude: experiencing God’s transforming presence. InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton RH (2012) Strengthening the soul of your leadership: seeking God in the crucible of ministry. InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciulla J (2000) The working life: the promise and betrayal of modern life. Three Rivers Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Cloud H (2013) Boundaries for leaders: results, relationships, and being ridiculously in charge. Harper Collins, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Diddams M, Whittington JL (2003) Revisiting the meaning of meaningful work. Acad Manag Rev 28(3):508–512

    Google Scholar 

  • Diddams M, Whittington JL, Davigo T (2005) Creating in the name of God who creates: a biblical view of vocation and work. J Manag Spiritual Relig 2(3):310–331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffy RD, Reid L, Dik BJ (2010) Spirituality, religion, and career development: implications for the workplace. J Manag Spiritual Relig 7(3):209–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fadling A (2013) An unhurried life: following Jesus’ rhythms of work and rest. InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove

    Google Scholar 

  • Heifetz RA, Linsky M (2002) Leadership on the line: staying alive through the dangers of leading. Harvard Business Press, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Hybels B (2015) Simplify: ten practices to unclutter your soul. Tyndale, Carol Stream

    Google Scholar 

  • Keller T (2014) Every good endeavor: connecting your work to God’s work. Penguin, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Linville PW (1985) Self-complexity and affective extremity: don’t put all of your eggs in one cognitive basket. Soc Cogn 3(1):94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linville PW (1987) Self-complexity as a cognitive buffer against stress-related illness and depression. J Pers Soc Psychol 52(4):663

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacArthur JF (1987) Galatians MacArthur new testament commentary. Moody Press, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald G (1986) Restoring your spiritual passion. Oliver-Nelson Books, Nashville

    Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald G (1988) Rebuilding your broken world. Thomas Nelson, Nashville

    Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald G (2007) Ordering your private world. Thomas Nelson, Nashville

    Google Scholar 

  • Maslow AH (1943) A theory of human motivation. Psychol Rev 50(4):370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meskelis S, Whittington JL (2017) Work as worship: bringing meaning to work through an integrated faith. In: Ewest T (ed) Faith and work: Christian perspectives, research and insights into the movement. Information Age Publications, Charlotte. forthcoming

    Google Scholar 

  • Neal J (2000) Work as service to the divine. Am Behav Sci 43(8):1316–1333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porter ME, Kramer MR (2006) Strategy and society: the link between corporate social responsibility and competitive advantage. Harv Bus Rev 84(12):78–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinn RE (2011) Building the bridge as you walk on it: a guide for leading change. Wiley, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherman D, Hendricks W (1987) Your work matters to God. NavPress, Colorado Springs

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherman D, Hendricks W (1989) How to balance competing time demands. NavPress, Colorado Springs

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanley A (2002) The next generation leader. Multnomah Publishing, Sisters

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanley A (2003) Choosing to cheat. Multnomah Publishing, Sisters

    Google Scholar 

  • Trueblood E (1961) The company of the committed. Harper, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Whittington JL (2015) Biblical perspectives on leadership and organizations. Palgrave MacMillan, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Whittington JL, Maellaro R, Galpin TJ (2011) Redefining success: the foundation for creating work-life balance. In: Kaiser S, Ringlstetter MJ, Eikhof DR, Pina e Cunha M (eds) Creating balance? International perspectives on the work-life integration of professionals. Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg, pp 65–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Whittington JL, Meskelis S, Asare E, Beldona S (2017) Enhancing employee engagement: an evidence-based approach. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. forthcoming

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Lee Whittington .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Whittington, J.L. (2018). Spiritual Disciplines for Transformation, Renewal, and Sustainable Leadership. In: Neal, J. (eds) Handbook of Personal and Organizational Transformation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66893-2_49

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics