Spirituality and Leadership

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship of spiritual orientation of purported servant leaders to the intensity of perceived servant behavior in those leaders. Spirituality in the workplace and more holistic styles of leadership has grown in popularity among leadership consultants and the general public. A sample of 80 managers and] 80 employees from Iran Khodroo and Saipa and pars Khodroo companies was surveyed using the Spirituality Assessment Scale (SAS) and the Servant Organizational Leadership Assessment (SOLA) between November 2007 and March 2008. Seventy - five managers (75%) and 140 employees (77%) responded. Spiritual orientation was measured using the SAS through two dimensions. The definitive dimension, considered essential for an individual to be spiritual, is demonstrated through a relationship with the transcendent through prayer or meditation, and the con-elated dimension, with is not exclusive to spirituality but may derive from moral philosophies, is the virtues of honesty, humility, and service to others. Servant leadership behavior was measured using the leadership portion of SOLA. Results of the study indicate that the sample of leaders surveyed in this study may be more spiritual than less spiritual, but with a greater propensity for the correlated variables. Pearson con-elation indicates that spirituality leadership isnt relationship to self - perceived servant leadership behavior. The self - perceived manger scores for servant leader behavior were greater and statically different than the values assigned by the employees. The self - perceived servant leadership behavior mean score for managers was statically greater than the employees indicating a perceptual chasm between the two groups.