0.3 Bezy, k., & Makolandra, j. (july 2009). spiritual and ethical  (Page 2/8)

Leaders, both in and outside the field of education, can benefit from a close examination of their reasons for leading. The depth from which our strength comes can be described as a spiritual dimension and the outcomes of decisions will be judged against what is considered to be ethical.

The word spirituality comes from that Latin word spiritus , which means breath, energy, courage, vigor, and soul (Simpson, 1960). We often look at the word spirituality as a religious word, but it has a meaning more basic to every one of us. It can be seen as the life force that moves us. It is that element that makes humans different from statues and robots. Other English words derived from spiritus are aspire, respire, inspire, and conspire. The latter word has definitions on both sides of the goodness spectrum, but I am looking at the definition that involves breathing together or working together. Leaders whom others aspire to follow are often said to be charismatic. Charismatic comes from the Greek word χάρισμα, which means a grace, favor, or a free gift (Liddell, 1972). Combining these concepts leads one to consider gifts or favors that come from nourishing the deeper forces that drive us.

The word Ethics is derived from the Greek word εθος meaning "moral character, nature, disposition, habit, and custom." ("The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language," n.d.). The meaning of ethics has not changed in centuries. The modern day definition is the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group ("The Merrian-Webster Online Dictionary," 2009). We often use the word in defining a person’s behavior; did he act in an ethical way in making the decision. People in leadership positions are trusted to make an ethical decision. That is, leaders are trusted by their subordinates to act in a way that is a commonly agreed upon fairness for everyone.

Purpose

Why is it important to study the connection of spirituality to leadership? And why is it important to study ethics? There is an increasing body of literature on the spiritual dimension of leadership. To know what motivates us or what nourishes us will give us insight into how to cultivate this force of motivation. Spiritual practices used by religious leaders may be used by secular leaders who are searching to improve their leadership. It is important and useful to develop one’s inner life to be able to draw upon the strength that can be found there (Sparks, 2007). Sergiovanni (1992) stated that leadership is shaped by a person’s interior world . One’s interior world contains a picture of what effective and high quality leadership is. We use this picture to compare and contrast what we see in the exterior world. The task is to cultivate the interior world to perfect that picture and to discover ways to draw strength from it.

According to Strike (2007), this inner picture must reflect the morals and norms established by the society or organization in which the leader is serving. A contrast of ideology in what is commonly accepted will bring conflict in the decisions made by a leader. An example of this could be the entry of a black student into a school prior to the civil rights movement and today. Prior to the Brown vs. Board, it was socially acceptable not to admit a student into a school solely on the color of their skin. However, given the same situation today, it would be unethical, and illegal, not to admit a student solely on the color of their skin. To be considered ethical, leaders must uphold the law and more importantly, reflect their aligned social and personal morals with their decisions.