Theory S: Spiritual Leadership of Business Organizations (Management Lessons From : The Bhagavadgita, The Holy Bible, The Holy Qur’an, and The Dhammapada)

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Leadership is a key function in the management of any organization. Many theories exist for the choice of the best leadership style, suiting a given situation. But none of these could provide cure for the following maladies of the modern-day businesses:

Intense competition amongst leaders, causing abnormal stress and stain, and the resultant degenerative diseases.

Fast-paced depletion of natural resources leading to the gravest threat to our ecosystem.

Frequent recessions of the economy, leading to: lay-offs, retrenchments, and plant closings.

The absence of meaning and purpose in the lives of organizational members.

The business world is in need of a panacea, in the form of Exemplary Leadership that can eradicate above ills. Only Spiritual Leadership, based on the universal principles of Spirituality, can provide the hope of rescue. The book provides the quintessential qualities of Spiritual Leadership based upon the world's four major religions (i.e., Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism).

Dr. N.S.P. RAJU is a Professor (Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management:. and Principal of Einstein College of Business Management (Affiliated to Osmania University). He received his Doctorate Degree from Gitam University, in 2013.

He worked in Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited for 10 years (1975-1985) and Cement Corporation of India Limited for 18 years (1985-2003). He occupied senior management positions in the functional area of materials management.

After taking voluntary retirement from the position of Assistant General Manager, he switched on to teaching profession. He thoroughly enjoys his present learning and teaching activities, for MBA students.

Dr. Raju is active in the participation of National and International Conferences. Further, he conducts Management Development Programs (MDPs) for management professionals of different organizations. Spirituality and Spiritual-based leadership are close to his Head, Heart, and Soul.

The objective of this book is to explore different nuances of the emerging paradigm of -Spiritual Leadership" in business organizations. Organizational leadership being a generic process, the principles and practices of "Spiritual Leadership" discussed herein, apply to the leadership and management of other types of organizations also viz., political organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), religious organizations, etc. The chief purpose is to view business leadership/management from the universal spiritual plane, and to develop perspectives for the leaders' "Being Doing, and Development" that can result in- individual, organizational, and societal transformation.

The title of the book, "Theory S : Spiritual Leadership of Business organizations (Management Lessons from The Bhagavadgita, The Holy Bible, The Holy Qur'an, and The Dhammapada)", indicates that the timeless spiritual principles / practices are culled from the holy texts of- the Hindu, Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist religions. The book examines the "psychological dimensions" as well as the "portfolio of behaviours" needed for Spiritual-based business leaders, to be effective in their roles from the viewpoint of the world's four major belief systems.

Further, "Individual Depth Interviews" are conducted with a cross section of the leaders of industry and academia, with the following broad objectives:

• Ascertaining the zeitgeist of contemporary business leadership towards their inclination to apply spiritual-based principles and practices @ workplace.

• Knowing the opinion of the business leadership about the positive correlation between "Spiritual Leadership" and "Leadership Effectiveness".

• Finding the view of the business leadership about the prospect of `Spiritual Leadership Paradigm" gaining wider acceptance in the business arena, in the time to come.

The leaders of industry and academia evinced utmost interest in furnishing their view points against the queries put forward. Majority of the leaders opined that - "Spiritual Leadership" has the greatest potential to impact leadership effectiveness, and this style of leadership is sure to occupy centre stage in business management. This lends credence to the triumph of "Theory S ("S" for Spiritual - based Leadership)", in the next millennium and beyond.

This book is an abridged (and slightly modified) version of the thesis, submitted by the author to the Gitam University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India; for the award of doctoral degree in Human Resource Management. The thesis bears the title -"A study of the Emerging Paradigm of Spiritual Leadership in Business Organizations and Its Potential Impact on Leadership Effectiveness".

■ WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS BOOK?

Obviously all those in the "Leader" or "Follower" positions in the business organizations and business schools (or B-schools), in the first place. In this context, it may be borne in mind that leadership is a pervasive process covering all levels of organizational hierarchy, though top or senior management is supposed to be at its forefront.

However, the concepts of "Spiritual Leadership" are so universal and timeless that people (i.e., leaders as well as followers) from all other walks of life can equally be benefitted. Thus, a comprehensive list of beneficiaries includes the following:

• Leaders/followers in business organizations

• Academic fraternity and student community in B-schools

• Entrepreneurs

• People working in non-governmental organizations (or NGOs)

• Leaders / followers in political organizations

• People striving in religious organizations

• Persons working in an organizational context, in all other walks of life

To be precise, all people (without exception) who want Self-realization, or Self-actualization, or Self-fulfilment in their personal and professional lives will be immensely benefitted from the insights generated by this study.

**Contents and Sample Pages**