Word and Deed: Thoughts on Faith-Based Leadership

The Sacred Seven

Whether your ministry takes place in the pews, the Board room, or the office, faith-based leadership principles can provide inspiration and guidance. Many authors have written about faith-based leadership; one of my favorites is Irish poet and philosopher John O'Donohue, PhD. In a 1998 speech to the Catholic Health Assembly, he reflected on the qualities of faith-based leaders. Based on O'Donohue's reflections, here is a list of my sacred seven thoughts that may help you along the path of leadership:

1. Faith-based leaders awaken life and creativity in other people--recognizing the sacredness of humanity as they develop and encourage others.
2. Faith-based leaders focus more on empowering others instead of supporting a stale bureaucratic system that engenders complacency and competitiveness.
3. Faith-based leaders believe that we were sent to earth for a special purpose and that includes the true art of self-knowing.
4. Faith-based leaders know that change begins with the imagination and that it is a key to developing spiritually and mentally. It requires five qualities that are at the heart of crucifixion, resurrection, and incarnation: integrity, a gift for awakening others, compassion, spontaneity, and an ability to make use of failure.
5. Faith-based leaders know that failure is to be respected as a transformative and creative catalyst for growth and change.
6. Faith-based leaders know that great change occurs within--we are the place where infinite possibilities meet.
7. Faith-based leaders know that our thoughts are powerful and that we cannot consistently entertain harsh and negative thoughts without experiencing results that are a manifestation of our inner desperation.

Shirley Nelson