African Spiritually Informed Leadership

Department

Leadership, Management & Business

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

2024

Abstract

This chapter examines the essence of African spirituality and its impact on leadership processes, leader practices and values, as well as how these spiritually informed dimensions are manifested within organizations. Pre-colonial African cosmology provides a framework for examining shared elements of spirituality across Africa’s diversity of cultures and religions. Core tenets like connectivity, community, and collectivity, shape leader practices and leadership processes to be holistic, communal, focused on human and ecological flourishing versus profits. Leadership emerges organically with communal support and decision-making is inclusive, fostering consensus and group solidarity. Ubuntu philosophy, an expression of connectivity, underscores shared collective personhood and agency. Relationally oriented communication aims to engage group members through dialogue and influence aiming to activate transformation. Goal setting balances individual and collective interests to promote justice, equity, and the common good. While comprehensive adoption faces impediments, integrating facets of this spiritually grounded paradigm could advance ethical, communal leadership to meet contemporary global challenges.

Comments

Published as a chapter of: Raei, M., Guenther, S. K., & Berkley, L. A. (2025). Leadership at the spiritual edge : emerging and non-Western concepts of leadership and spirituality. Routledge.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003396741

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