Soulful Leadership: Spiritual Practices of School Principals

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to define, in terms of both words and actions, the characteristics of spiritual leadership in schools, and principals’ perceptions of the role spiritual practices have in creating a campus culture that influences the behavior of others. The study was qualitative in nature and the methodology included the use of Interactive Qualitative Analysis (IQA). Surveys, focus group analysis, and interviews were conducted with principals within a 30-mile radius of a regional university in Texas. The findings showed that spiritual leadership, as described by the participants in the study, consisted of three components: belief in a higher calling, personal values, and interpersonal relationships. In sum, spiritual leadership in schools may be developed through meaningful interactions and has the potential to grow a set of leadership practices that could strengthen a campus community, empower leaders to pause and seek guidance, and improve communication skills.