Friday, November 9, 2007 at 2:02am
Spiritual direction for leaders
Column: Executive Soul
Leadership is lonely. When they find themselves and their organizations going through cycles of spiritual transformation, leaders often lack understanding about what is occurring. Fear is a normal response. Furthermore, contemporary Western leaders live in a culture of superficiality. Who exists in their world who understands spiritual depth and how to help leaders move deeper on the spiritual journey when the deeper places beckon?
Spiritual direction, a centuries-old practice in many spiritual traditions, can help the leader on this path. Spiritual directors understand the deep places and can help leaders move beyond the limited understanding of the culture that surrounds them.
Spiritual direction, in some ways a misnomer, is more about companionship than it is about directing. A special relationship between two people which focuses on the presence of the holy in the life of the one seeking direction, spiritual direction usually occurs monthly (although it occasionally occurs more or less frequently). Meetings generally begin with prayer, either silent or spoken, followed by the leader sharing with the spiritual director what has been occurring in his/her spiritual journey. Often punctuated by silence, spiritual direction meetings maintain a prayerful atmosphere. The spiritual director practices holy listening, listening deeply for where the Spirit is moving in the leader's life, asking questions that help the leader notice and name God's presence. The spiritual director holds the memory of the leader's spiritual journey over time, honoring the reality of the spiritual dimension of life. When the leader, in the hustle and bustle of daily life, loses track of God's presence, the spiritual director remembers how God has worked in the person's life in the past, and rehearses the stories of the unique ways the Spirit has manifested in this person's life.
Spiritual direction helps the leader get re-centered and reminds the leader about how to notice the Spirit's movement in everyday life. In times of confusion or Dark Night, spiritual direction serves as a compass, helping the leader find the path through unknown terrain. The spiritual director also serves as an experienced guide, warning about sheer cliffs, rocky outcroppings and dangerous crevasses along the way, and helping the leader find safe passage.
While individual spiritual direction, the one-to-one meeting described above, is the most common form of spiritual direction, group spiritual direction is another form. This occurs in a group of roughly six to eight people led by a facilitator. After an initial orientation by the facilitator, participants take turns being the focus person and group members help one another notice and name the Spirit's movement in one another's lives. As with individual spiritual direction, an atmosphere of holy listening pervades the group. The facilitator provides ongoing support, helping group members hone their skills of deep listening. Group spiritual direction can be particularly effective 1) with those who find meeting with an individual spiritual director intimidating and a group experience more congenial or 2) with those who share a common work experience and can benefit from being with others on a similar journey.
Spiritual direction, an ancient spiritual practice, can serve leaders well as they engage in the journey of transformation for themselves and their organizations. May more leaders avail themselves of it and experience the depth of transformation that is possible.
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Margaret Benefiel, Ph.D., author of "Soul at Work: Spiritual Leadership in Organizations," works with leaders in business, healthcare, government and non-profits to help them develop spiritual leadership. Visit her website at www.ExecutiveSoul.com. © Copyright 2007 by Margaret Benefiel.
Spiritual direction, a centuries-old practice in many spiritual traditions, can help the leader on this path. Spiritual directors understand the deep places and can help leaders move beyond the limited understanding of the culture that surrounds them.
Spiritual direction, in some ways a misnomer, is more about companionship than it is about directing. A special relationship between two people which focuses on the presence of the holy in the life of the one seeking direction, spiritual direction usually occurs monthly (although it occasionally occurs more or less frequently). Meetings generally begin with prayer, either silent or spoken, followed by the leader sharing with the spiritual director what has been occurring in his/her spiritual journey. Often punctuated by silence, spiritual direction meetings maintain a prayerful atmosphere. The spiritual director practices holy listening, listening deeply for where the Spirit is moving in the leader's life, asking questions that help the leader notice and name God's presence. The spiritual director holds the memory of the leader's spiritual journey over time, honoring the reality of the spiritual dimension of life. When the leader, in the hustle and bustle of daily life, loses track of God's presence, the spiritual director remembers how God has worked in the person's life in the past, and rehearses the stories of the unique ways the Spirit has manifested in this person's life.
Spiritual direction helps the leader get re-centered and reminds the leader about how to notice the Spirit's movement in everyday life. In times of confusion or Dark Night, spiritual direction serves as a compass, helping the leader find the path through unknown terrain. The spiritual director also serves as an experienced guide, warning about sheer cliffs, rocky outcroppings and dangerous crevasses along the way, and helping the leader find safe passage.
While individual spiritual direction, the one-to-one meeting described above, is the most common form of spiritual direction, group spiritual direction is another form. This occurs in a group of roughly six to eight people led by a facilitator. After an initial orientation by the facilitator, participants take turns being the focus person and group members help one another notice and name the Spirit's movement in one another's lives. As with individual spiritual direction, an atmosphere of holy listening pervades the group. The facilitator provides ongoing support, helping group members hone their skills of deep listening. Group spiritual direction can be particularly effective 1) with those who find meeting with an individual spiritual director intimidating and a group experience more congenial or 2) with those who share a common work experience and can benefit from being with others on a similar journey.
Spiritual direction, an ancient spiritual practice, can serve leaders well as they engage in the journey of transformation for themselves and their organizations. May more leaders avail themselves of it and experience the depth of transformation that is possible.
— — —
Margaret Benefiel, Ph.D., author of "Soul at Work: Spiritual Leadership in Organizations," works with leaders in business, healthcare, government and non-profits to help them develop spiritual leadership. Visit her website at www.ExecutiveSoul.com. © Copyright 2007 by Margaret Benefiel.