Today healthcare is characterized as stressful and depleted of much needed resources including limited time, energy and support, all of which may lead to burnout and psychological problems for healthcare professionals and caregivers. Working short, long hours, low wages, and high work pressure can lead to decreased work and life satisfaction. Research shows that over 25% of employees are looking to leave their current job, face conflict with management, and are just unhappy at work. What can help? Spiritual leadership.
What is Spiritual Leadership?
For years, various leadership styles have been researched and recommended in healthcare, including transformational, servanthood, and supportive leadership. Spiritual leadership, on the other hand, is a newer concept and one that is now receiving attention as a real game-changer.
Spiritual leadership is based on “spirituality” which can be seen as a core guiding principle that brings deep meaning to our human experience. It’s the universal force that compels us to climb higher, reach new heights, and feel connected with others. The purpose of spiritual leadership is to create a unified vision and value congruence across a team or entire organization. It’s the glue that binds people together in unity and purpose.
Some writers contend that spiritual leaders are those who challenge the status quo, inspire a shared vision in their employees, act as role models, encourage the heart and enable their staff to act with professional independence.
Effects of Spiritual Leadership
This topic has been studied by experts who provide a number of observations and outcomes associated with this type of leadership. Studies reveal that spiritual leadership is associated with:
- Reduced negative effects of burnout
- Motivation to create a positive workplace
- Rebuild employee well-being and work-life balance
- Positive influence on organizational commitment
- Increases job satisfaction
- Improves commitment, retention, and attachment to the organization
- Creates a culture of altruistic values
- Promotes hope and faith in the mission
Connecting the Dots
Apparently spiritual leadership has both direct effects as well as indirect effects on employees and the workplace. When leaders fully embrace this style, they create meaning and a calling as well as a collective sense of membership among their staff. These combined lead to deeper organizational commitment, higher productivity, greater life satisfaction and minimal burnout.
It can also lead to “altruistic love” which is a sense of being whole, experiencing harmony and well-being through care, appreciation and concern for one’s self and their team. The sense of membership can lead to greater job satisfaction, feeling that one is understood and appreciated, and employees lead by spiritual leaders appear to expend the extra effort, cooperate more and are loyal and attached.
Perhaps the greatest effect of spiritual leadership doesn’t involve employees at all – but the recipients of care. When staff are working as a unified team with a single mission in mind, their patients and senior care residents may experience greater satisfaction with care and services. Their health outcomes may be better and their quality of life may improve.
Becoming a Spiritual Leader
As you read this article, I hope you focus on the type of leadership that best describes you. Perhaps you borrow a couple different styles that fit your personality. Whether you’re new in a leadership position or a well-seasoned professional, it’s never too late to change it up. Here’s what it would take to become a more spiritual leader:
- Practice mindfulness, being fully present, and completely there with your employees
- Become more emotionally intelligent, manage your emotions, understand the emotions of your staff and find balance
- Always speak of the overall mission, vision and purpose for the work that’s being done and the care that’s being delivered
- When holding team meetings, allow for a moment of silence so everyone can breathe, leave their work behind, and focus on the reason for getting together
- Read about great leaders and use their styles of leadership
- Make being a servant to others your top priority
- Always act with integrity, compassion, honesty and genuine care for your team
- Be consistent in your approach, practice humility and show others how to become more resilient
Final Thoughts on Spiritual Leadership
I’ve been in senior care for over 30 years and have seen it all. Working under-staffed, stress and burnout, conflict, and sometimes downright violence. We need good people in senior care. We also need unwavering, positive leadership. While other styles of leadership can be effective, a lot of attention is being paid to spiritual leadership and from the results we’ve seen in studies and in practice, there seems to be a lot of hope for this style. Why not give it a try?