Nurturing the Spiritual Life of Leaders
The spiritual foundation of a leader is a vital component of leadership identity; understanding leads to wisdom – and to the adventure of a lifetime.
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“People have both an inner and an outer life and the nourishment of the inner life can lead to a more productive and meaningful outer life”​
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Ashmos & Duchan, Journal of Management Inquiry, 9:2,2000
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Being spiritually alive yields treasure that spills out into the communities and organisations we are part of. What is this treasure? Qualities such as: calmness, empathy, listening, resilience, patience, kindness, care, purpose, optimism, and so much more. We can create healthy or toxic environments around us – it’s our choice. I am committed to sparking, nourishing, and sustaining the spiritual life of leaders because the difference it makes to personal wellbeing and organisational health is tangible.
Holistic Development Model – Tailored Leadership Formation
Holistic Leadership shares a tried and trusted model, widely known as the Map of Meaning, which grew out of doctoral research into career and life transitions.
I have worked with the model for many years, interpreting it through a Christian perspective, and extending its application to a wide variety of leaders through my own PhD research. My personal journey has led to the Christian Development Model (CDM). Simple but profound, the CDM creates space for people to slow down, opens time for reflection, and enables transformational moments of inspiration to emerge.
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Working with the model in any of its forms helps individuals to clarify how their spiritual orientation impacts their leadership in specific and particular contexts. This is a vital sign of health in organisational life - recognising, understanding and experiencing the spiritual dimension is therefore critical for all of us.
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Central inspiration
What is the foundation, or source, of our inspiration and motivation? What are our spiritual values? How does our spiritual understanding inform our leadership purpose?
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Recognising what we value spiritually lies at the centre of our lives. Raising awareness helps identify the influence our spiritual values are having in the following areas:​​​​​
The sections in the model include:
The model raises awareness of everyday tensions we all encounter, the demands and pulls which are an inevitable part of life – Being and Doing, Self and Others, Inspiration and Reality. The influence of these dimensions is felt at both the individual and the organisational level. Individually, the model highlights the leadership perspective and redirects attention in support of genuine transformation. Organisationally, the model identifies where internal cohesion is lacking, and restores connection.
The model can be applied to:
Personal and Professional balance – juggling priorities
​Purpose and Performance – challenging expectations
Mental Health and Stress - alleviating burnout and depression
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Leadership Mentoring – encouraging spiritual Direction
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The wider context is always present, as the model is underpinned by recognition of humanity’s need for sustainable social responsibility.
Group Facilitation
Using the Holistic Development Model creates a rich forum for shared learning experiences, and acts as a catalytic host – inviting the emergence of inspiration and insight into a room. Events can and do lead to pivotal moments of understanding, excitement, and energy for change.
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The significance of personal spiritual development, which is integral to wellbeing and genuine leadership, is recognised. Within this work, it is important to acknowledge the diverse range of meanings and associations that people connect to the word
'spirituality'. I have worked successfully over many years to engage people in significant and transformative conversations.​​
My group events:
Create time and space for creative reflection
Enable leaders to listen for meaning to identify and connect shared spiritual values
Position learning within the leadership context, encourage connection to an alignment with spiritual purpose, and encourage application within the particular work environment
Encourage critical thinking and constructive learning
Provide resources, materials and practical exercises that open up new insights
You handled a complex situation yesterday, with people who don't know each other that well, with great tact and sensitivity, but getting action hopes. I do hope we can involve you in the future.”
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Professor Peter Gilbert, National Spirituality & Mental Health Forum, Trustee and Board Away Day
Individual Spiritual Mentoring
Work with the Holistic Development Model enables people, who want to build a lasting leadership legacy, to map out how these various strands inform individual meaning and societal impact.
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“Sue has been instrumental in supporting me with the Holistic Leadership journey over the past year – thereby helping to clear the blocks which were limiting my potential as a leader (a process which continues). The support and attention has been nothing short of life-changing and life-enhancing for me.”
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Jo Edwardes – Founder and CEO, Good Connection
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Mentoring is a catalyst for individual and organisational transformation. When it comes to spiritual development, having a mentor you can trust, someone with whom you can share your personal experience of the spiritual journey is important.
The Holistic Development Model is a wonderful tool for Spiritual Directors and Mentors as it offers both support and challenge for individuals and I encourage Mentors to use it.
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Tony Horsfall describes mentoring beautifully in his book ‘Mentoring for Spiritual Growth’:
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“Mentoring, is a relationship where the mentor promotes the work of God in the life of another, empowering the person through the sharing of God-given resources. It’s a relational process in which a mentor, who knows or has experienced something, transfers resources of wisdom, information, experience,
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Horsfall, Tony, Mentoring for Spiritual Growth, 2008, BRF
Who am I?
I am Dr Sue Howard. Using my own life as a tool for discovery I have beomce known as a pioneer in the field of Spirit at Work - see 'The Spirit at Work Phenomenon', 2004. I work with Grove Books as part of the editorial team, most recently with the Spirituality Series.
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My other publications:
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The Christian Development Model, 2022, (Grove Books, S161)
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A Christian Perspective on enabling spiritual formation in relation to work, 2017, PhD Thesis, University of Winchester
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‘Spirit at Work’, 2012, topic within People Alchemy’s e-learning website
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The Inner Life of a Christian Leader, 2010, (Grove Books L2)
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The Spirit at Work Phenomenon, 2004, (Azure)
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A spiritual perspective on learning in the workplace, 2002, Journal of Managerial Psychology, V17: No 3, (Emerald)
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Organisations I have worked with include:
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Cranfield School of Management . Ashridge Executive Education . Roffey Park Institute . World Vision
Verso Vineyard Church, St Albans . YMCA . University of Hertfordshire . Sarum College . Career Milestones