Crystal Davis read my blog posts last year and emailed me inquiring about other resources related to Spirituality at work. She’s doing her dissertation on Servant Leadership. I’ve enjoyed exchanging ideas with her over the past year.

I invited Crystal to share some of her dissertation topic for our blog posts this month. Here is a brief summary she wrote on Servant Leadership and how she’s researching it for her dissertation.

Enjoy!

***********

What does self-transcendence have to do with servant leadership? This is the question that has sparked deep interest for me well over three years now. My doctorate proposal will ask this question to find out if a correlation exists between spirituality (self-transcendence) and servant leadership within an organization called Centers for Spiritual Living. There have been several other studies that used faith based organizations and these studies found mixed results. In a study conducted in two African American rural churches in North Carolina reflected concerns about the demonstration of servant leadership and the potential problems extending toward new lay leaders. The demonstration of effective servant leadership is important for new lay leaders, and the pastors of the churches should establish a training program for lay leadership. Further research could focus on the perception and practice of servant leadership in other denominations and among other ethnic groups, other characteristics of servant leadership, and the cultural, political, and social factors that influence servant leadership. My study will take these concerns to heart and look at servant leadership in another faith –based denomination. To date, no study has been done with Centers for Spiritual Living.

More attention is being devoted to the theory of servant leadership. What is Servant Leadership? It is a leadership theory coined by Robert Greenleaf in which the leader sees him/herself as a servant first and a leader second. Servant leaders put forth selfless service to the individuals of the organization with the intrinsic perspective toward self-actualization for everyone. Servant leadership possesses characteristics such as voluntary subordination, authentic self, covenantal relationship, responsible morality, transcendental spirituality, and transforming influence.

Servant Leadership should not be confused with the idea that if you are a servant leader, you will be taken advantage of. On the contrary, a servant leader can serve without being servile. Of relevance is the Servant leaders’ quality of selfless service, which is an intrinsic desire to serve, that comes from within.

When leaders are firmly grounded in servant leadership principles and are more self-transcendent (spiritual), the reputation of the organization can return multiple dividends in terms of greater investment and growth of the people. When awareness takes place in the universal human condition, it will be understood that energy unites everything, and one’s purpose will change from serving individualistic needs to serving others.

This proposed quantitative correlational research study may produce results supporting the need for organizations to employ mature self-transcendent (spiritual) leaders who employ servant leadership behavior to lead spiritual organizations. The results could aid scholars, leaders, and practitioners who engage in servant leadership behavior by revealing situatedness through which servant leadership principles can be developed, modeled, and sustained. If a relationship exists between self-transcendence and servant leadership behavior, this could determine a need for critical analysis on how servant leadership training programs can be developed administered, and sustained in various spiritual organizations.

***************

For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

——————

Crystal J Davis holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Kansas State University, a Masters in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma, and will graduate with a Doctorate in Management and Organizational Leadership from University of Phoenix in December 2013.

Ms. Davis is passionately engaged in Servant Leadership and selfless service to the nonprofit and public sectors having served both large and small organizations throughout her career and her consulting business.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday I had an interesting discussion with a mortgage lender and an economist about the 2008 banking industry collapse. Part of the discussion was around culpability and responsibility. In another conversation that week with a management consultant friend, we shared our frustration that institutions and systems are hard to change as organizational culture and corporate norms are deeply entrenched.

While whole systems of incentives, accountability, and market demand were responsible for the global banking collapse, business ethics and corporate citizenship ultimately comes down to personal decision making. To avoid such disasters in the future, fraud and greed have to be kept at bay. Each person must know the line over which they simply will not cross.

Where’s Your Ethical Line?

When I did on-boarding in my previous job, I talked to the new hires about their personal business ethics. I told them to get clear what values and principles they simply were not willing to sacrifice for their jobs. If they weren’t clear where that line is prior to starting their job, it would only get more fuzzy and confusing once they were in it. With pressure from a boss, customer, or co-workers to perform and conform, doing the right thing becomes even more challenging.

I offer this video below with some stories of people who knew where their ethical line was and what they weren’t willing to do for money.

Take some time to think through what you are and are not willing to do to save your job, please a boss, satisfy a customer, fit into your company, or make others look good. In the end, it is only your own conscience that you have to live with every night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW_7BEb1VCw&feature=plcp

To learn more about aligning your values with your work, read my book “Path for Greatness”.

BUY the 10^th Anniversary edition of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”. Share this as a gift for a colleague, friend or family member who desires to integrate their spiritual life and their work life.

************************

For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

——————

Linda J. Ferguson, Ph.D. is an author, coach, and seminar leader serving as a guide for your wholeness and authenticity in work and life.

Sign-Up on Linda’s website- www.lindajferguson.com for valuable tools to live and work from the heart – Transformational Empowerment _(TM)

“Like” Linda’s Fan Page – https://www.facebook.com/LindaJFerguson to get notices of these blog posts and other updates of Linda’s work.

News Flash:

The 19^th century paradigm of the Industrial Revolution is over.

Many people are wringing their hands about the contracting economy and the collapse of the global financial system. The solution is NOT doing more of the same or applying similar solutions to the same problem. Everything has its cycle. The old paradigm of manufacturing and production has run its course.

OK, not exactly. We will still produce things and make things. We do live in a tangible three dimensional world. How we produce is changing; we’ve entered a new era, one of Conscious Evolution and Manifesting. Do you want to learn how to make things happen in the 21^st century using radically different solutions? Then get this- it’s all about Energy. **

It used to be that we had to work harder or be more efficient to increase production. That paradigm is out of date, only most business schools won’t teach you that. The mystery schools of manifesting will help you learn new ways to be productive because they focus on Energy, the Source of all that is.

I’m not talking about wind, solar, geo-thermal, or fossil fuel type energy (though those do help support our companies and lives). I’m talking about the Energy that pulses through you and I and all that is on this planet. We are at our core simply Energy, sub-atomic forces that can destroy cities or change lives.

Energy and Manifesting

What Energy are you feeding your world today? What Energy do you bring to your work?

• Notice how you talk to people- is it with kind, joyful energy or frustrated, angry energy?
• Notice how you think of people- is it with compassion and caring or judgment and criticism?
• Notice how you prepare for a call or meeting– is it with hopefulness and positive expectation or with cynicism and doubt?
• Notice how you view your tasks- do you focus on what good you can create or worry about getting things wrong?
• Notice how you approach your work- do you visualize yourself being wildly successful or do you prepare for the worst?

All of these ways of seeing, expecting, talking, thinking set up a wave of Energy coming from you to everything and everyone around you. You affect your world by the Energy you bring. Manifesting is about how your Energy is used in the world. If you want to manifest positive outcomes, you need to bring and share positive Energy. It’s as simple as that.

You’ll turbo-charge any new technology device, software or hardware, when you understand and use your Energy more consciously. Your body is an incredible machine, your mind a powerful tool. Yet hard to master. To learn more ways to tap this Energy and build your personal mastery, sign-up to receive my framework of Transformational Empowerment found on the right side of my website – www.lindajferguson.com

Work on your thoughts, attitudes, expectations and beliefs and you have a new tool for the 21^st century. Be mindful of your Energy. Shifting your Energy from worry, doubt, anger, or fear to hope, joy, compassion and kindness is the very tool you need to create the world you want to live in.

Are you ready to step into the 21^st century and a new paradigm?

Ahoy mates, let the journey begin.

** NB: My latest book, “Staying Grounded in Shifting Sand: Awakening Soul Consciousness for the New Millennium” describes in more details the new scientific paradigm of energy and a new framework for manifesting.

**************************************

For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

——————

Dr. Linda J. Ferguson is a job and life coach, seminar leader, and writer. Sign-Up on Linda’s website- www.lindajferguson.com to receive her new framework for manifesting – Transformational Empowerment.

Now available!! Linda’s new book, “Staying Grounded in Shifting Sand” – Click here to order.

“Like” Linda’s Fan Page – https://www.facebook.com/LindaJFerguson to get notices of these blog posts and other updates of Linda’s work.

I attended a conference last week where one of the speakers shared a quote her mother used to tell her. I’ll call it the Principle of Two Hands:

You were given two hands. Use one hand to help yourself and the other to help those around you.

One Hand to Help Yourself

Let’s look at how this principle applies to your work projects. The most obvious way is to take action where you can rather than procrastinate or delay. Procrastination often is a sign of resistance. That which you resist, persists.

Chunk down the project you need to complete and do one piece of it today to start making progress. Once you feel some momentum, you build energy to keep moving forward. If you’ve imagined the project as being too overwhelming, you’ve defeated yourself before you even start. Often the task isn’t as daunting once you get going on it.

Are you feeling stuck or blocked and can’t find your way around a barrier? Have you asked for help or do you think you need to do it on your own? Using one hand to help yourself doesn’t mean you need to do everything by yourself. There are resources all around you. Expand your horizons a bit to see what assistance and resources are available to help you move forward.

Do you need more focus and clarity on next steps to reach an important goal? Often working with a coach helps you shift perspective about a block in your path. Perhaps there’s a mentor or advisor you can call on to provide some insights or shed light on new approaches to take.

Pay attention this week to how you are helping yourself or standing in your own way. Pride can be a motivating force, but ego can hold you back if you think you know it all or can do it alone.

One Hand to Help Others

Give with an open heart and you never know the impact you will have one someone’s life.

• How are you extending your second hand to help others?
• When was the last time you helped someone with their work purely for the sake of helping them succeed?

This week as the effects of Hurricane Sandy unfold, we’re all called to step up and show up as the radiant, magnificent expression of Love in Action.

Extend your hand in loving service to strengthen the chain of caring and kindness.

Bright Blessings.

*****************

For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

——————

Dr. Linda Ferguson is a job and life coach, author, and speaker guiding people to move through their stress and challenges quicker so that they can find greater balance and joy.

BUY Linda’s 10^th Anniversary edition of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”.

Sign-Up on Linda’s website- www.lindajferguson.com for valuable tools to live and work with greater passion and purpose.

I’m always inspired by Jeffrey Swartz, former CEO of Timberland Co. He understands that who you are being at work matters just as much as the activities that you do.

I’ve often pondered the interplay of Beings and Doing. Our work world puts waaaaaaay more emphasis on doing- being productive, keeping busy, meeting deadlines, accountability for performance. How many performance appraisals give weight to Who You Are Being at work? …..What gets rewarded gets repeated.

So why not reward who you are being that supports a positive workplace? Think of how many projects get derailed because people don’t get along or can’t stand each other! If managers and executives paid more attention to who staff are being , it would help teams be more productive.

Notice this week how much energy you give to what you do vs. who you are being.

• Are you being kind?
• Are you being gracious?
• Are you being open-minded and open-hearted?

I love to share this story of how Jeffrey Swartz realized that who he was being as CEO of a Fortune 500 company was just as important as what he was doing.

Enjoy! Leave a comment below to let me know what you think of his moment of awakening.

Here’s a Special Bonus– This interview with Jeff shows his commitment to his faith and his belief that businesses play a vital role in social justice. He shares his views that engaged consumerism is the key to social change- “Interview with Jeffrey Swartz”

I am grateful for his commitment to corporate social responsibility and his understanding that work and spiritual life are interconnected.

***********

For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

——————

Sign-up on Linda’s website- www.lindajferguson.com to receive other valuable tools for living and working with heart.

Click to buy Linda’s 10^th Anniversary edition of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”.

I’ve given presentations on spirituality at work to groups all across the country. Since spirituality means such different things to different people, I like to share a framework to help people understand one way to work spiritually. I offer this framework in my first book, “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”. In the chapter on spirituality vs. religion, I share a diagram for aligning your gifts, passion, and purpose in loving service for others.

Below is a video from a presentation I gave to a group of business people who really appreciated learning my approach to spirituality at work.

In this video I share my framework for how you can show up spiritually in your work. You’ll hear one of my favorite stories of a young manager who learned what loving service is all about.

Enjoy the video and spend some time this week thinking about how you are, or are not, aligning your gifts with your passion and purpose.

http://youtu.be/2kJXBchNJjk

The Light within me Radiates the Light within you.

– Namaste

********************

For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

——————

Linda J. Ferguson is the Author of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”.

Share this blog post with friends and colleagues if it spoke to you.

BUY NOW Linda’s 10^th Anniversary edition

Sign-up on Linda’s website- www.lindajferguson.com to receive valuable materials to accelerate your personal and professional mastery.

I’ve always liked the poem by Lao Tsu on creating world peace. It helps me remember to focus on creating peace within me in order to create more peace elsewhere.

If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbors.
If there is to be peace between neighbors,
There must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.
Lao Tzu

How can we create peace in our lives, our homes, our work, let alone our world, if we are not at peace?

Next time you find yourself caught up in a power conflict, ego attachment, or judgement of others, tune in to yourself. See what is not at peace there. Breathe into your inner turmoil and work there.

To help you shift through a stress or worry, here’s a simple question you can ask yourself- “What would Love do now?”

Give yourself some time and quiet to see what answer emerges.

As you learn to bring yourself back to greater peace, harmony, balance, composure, you’ll be able to share that energy, that balance, that peace with others.

Share a story of when you have ‘Let Love Prevail’ – https://www.facebook.com/LetLovePrevail

**************************

For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

——————

Sign-up on Linda’s website- www.lindajferguson.com for tools you can use to live and work with passion and purpose.

Buy now Linda’s 10^th Anniversary edition of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”.

Linda J. Ferguson, Ph.D. is an Author, Speaker, Coach supporting spiritually connected people to move through their challenges and stresses more quickly so that they can create greater harmony and balance in their life.

I have led many workshops to help people focus on their work as spiritual service. In my first book, “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”, I provide a framework for how people can share their gifts with others in alignment with their passion and purpose.

In my workshops people reflect on how they integrate their spiritual lives with their work lives. Participants learn how to see their work as a opportunity to grow spiritually and see their co-workers as spiritual teachers.

Here is a 3 minute video with some quotes to reflect on ways you can see your work as spiritual service.

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nSuXSJQNSw&feature=plcp

Feel free to share this video with 2-3 colleagues or friends who wish to work spiritually, find greater passion and purpose in their work, and share their gifts in loving service to others.

***************************

For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

——————

“Like” Linda’s Fan Page – https://www.facebook.com/LindaJFerguson to get notices of these blog posts and other updates of Linda’s work.

Click this link to order Linda’s 10^th Anniversary edition of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”.

Visit Linda’s website- www.lindajferguson.com for information about her coaching work, keynote presentations, seminar topics, and books.

Enjoy this meditation video as a reminder of the gifts Nature provides for us every day if we take time to stop and smell the roses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7xFsXGyrGs&feature=plcp

While summer is here and we have plenty of sunshine, take some time this week to appreciate Mother Earth. Take a walk on your lunch break or find a park near you and sit for just 5 minutes to hear the birds, to breathe in the smells of the trees, to feel the the softness of fresh grass.

Enjoy a bit of Nature as a short time out of your hectic week to renew your soul.

Let your attention shift “Towards the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony, and Beauty….” (First line of a Sufi Invocation)

Pass this along to anyone who needs a little extra sunshine this week.

********************

For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

——————

Visit Linda’s website- www.lindajferguson.com for information about her coaching work, keynote presentations, seminar topics, and books.

“Like” Linda’s Fan Page – https://www.facebook.com/LindaJFerguson to get notices of these blog posts and other updates of Linda’s work.

Click this link to order Linda’s 10^th Anniversary edition of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”.

Here’s a music meditation I put together using a sacred chant and pictures of various temples and scenes in Asia.

Take some time this week to watch this video and reflect on how your heart is open and welcoming.

How open are you to generosity when it appears?

How open are you to friendship when it appears?

How welcoming are you to joy in your life?

Make your heart a Divine Temple of peace, love, joy, compassion, wholeness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COq3QgNphbs&feature=plcp

The music is by Len Seligman. I heard him last fall when he led a session of the Dances of Universal Peace. Visit his website – www.mahbood.com to hear more of this work. His latest CD, “Head Over Heels”, is a collection of sacred chants and songs from various faith traditions.

The pictures are from my niece’s study abroad trip to Asia this winter and spring. She’s a very talented photographer so you’ll enjoy her pictures.

Share this blog post on FB or RT if this spoke to you.

************************

For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

——————

Linda J. Ferguson, Ph.D. is a Job/ Life Coach, Keynote Speaker, and Seminar Leader guiding people to live and work with passion and purpose.

Live your life by design not default!

Visit www.lindajferguson.com

Click here to order Linda’s book “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”.

Click here to order Linda’s book “Staying Grounded in Shifting Sand: Awakening Soul Consciousness for the New Millennium”

Linda has a Fan Page – https://www.facebook.com/LindaJFerguson “Like” this page if you want to get notices of these blog posts and other updates of Linda’s work.