Spirituality as a Foundation of Ethical Leadership: Toward an Integrative Anthropology for the Social Sciences
Keywords:
spirituality, ethical leadership, transformational leadership, servant leadership, social sciences, common goodAbstract
This article proposes a theoretical link between human spirituality and ethical leadership, asserting that both share an anthropological basis: the capacity to orient oneself toward a good that transcends individual interest. Based on an integrative review of the literature in psychology, the social sciences, and leadership theories, this review explores the spiritual dimensions—meaning, transcendence, relationality, and ethical responsibility—as structural foundations of transformational, servant, and authentic leadership. The results show that leaders with developed spirituality tend to exert a more coherent, humanizing, and sustainable influence, especially in contexts of uncertainty and social complexity. The article concludes with implications for the training of leaders in educational, community, and organizational institutions.
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