Lighting My Leadership Flame: My Take on Dr. Yosi Amram’s Spiritually Intelligent Leadership

I recently read a truly transformative book by Dr. Yosi Amram, a clinical psychologist, executive coach, and pioneering researcher in the field of spiritually intelligent leadership. 

Titled "Spiritually Intelligent Leadership," this book stands out from the usual leadership guides.

 It offers deep insights into how embodying qualities like purpose, service, compassion, integrity, and humility can significantly enhance our functioning and well-being, particularly in leadership roles. 

Here are my thoughts and reflections on this remarkable read:

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The conventional notion of success and happiness that our beloved society has sold us is like a drug, and we all have become an addict.

In this whole race of chasing empty goals trying to prove our egoic worth to impress the world has perhaps helped us to achieve material prosperity, but as a clear side effect, we have learnt to live an artificial life which has snatched away our true happiness.

Dr. Amram makes a clear distinction between spirituality and religion, which was one of the most enlightening parts of the book. Spirituality, he explains, is about an individual’s quest for connection and the sacredness of life, whereas religion involves organized structures with specific creeds and beliefs. 

In the corporate world, this means embodying values like compassion, connectedness, humility, and purpose, rather than promoting a specific dogma. 

His insights offer a refreshing perspective on how spiritually intelligent leadership can transform workplace culture, enhancing well-being for both individuals and organizations.

A standout idea from the book is that before we can inspire others, we must first inspire ourselves. It’s like trying to light someone else’s candle when yours is barely flickering—it just doesn’t work. 

This concept resonated deeply with me because we’ve all experienced those moments of trying to lead while feeling completely uninspired ourselves. 

Dr. Amram emphasizes that leadership starts from within, and his practical advice on cultivating spiritually intelligent leadership is invaluable.

Dr. Amram challenges the conventional notion of leadership being about the big shot out in front. 

He flips this idea on its head, showing that leading from behind can be just as impactful, if not more so. It’s all about empowering others to shine, and that’s where the magic happens. 

This approach to leadership, rooted in humility and service, is both refreshing and deeply effective.

Dr. Amram presents compelling evidence on how spiritually intelligent leadership impacts team morale, commitment, and turnover. Leaders who score high in spiritual intelligence tend to lead teams with greater morale, higher commitment, and lower turnover, ultimately resulting in better financial outcomes for their business units. 

This book convincingly says that spiritually intelligent leadership is not just a nice-to-have but a crucial element of effective leadership.

One of the myths Dr. Amram debunks is that spirituality means shunning money. 

On the contrary, he cites research showing that leaders with higher spiritual intelligence often achieve better financial results. 

He emphasizes the importance of holistic thinking in business, considering the well-being of all stakeholders—shareholders, employees, customers, and partners alike. This approach leads to sustainable success, benefiting everyone involved.

What I appreciated most about Dr. Amram’s book is that it doesn’t just leave us with theory; it offers practical, actionable tips for integrating spiritual principles into our daily corporate lives. 

He suggests simple yet powerful practices like expressing gratitude, sharing appreciation, and finding our center and life force energy. By cultivating qualities of spiritually intelligent leadership through these exercises and habit-building, we can make significant strides in both our personal and professional lives.

Reading Dr. Amram’s "Spiritually Intelligent Leadership" has provided a wealth of insights into the practical application of spiritual intelligence in the corporate world. It's clear that this dimension of intelligence is not just a nice-to-have but a must-have for anyone aspiring to lead with excellence and achieve both business success and personal fulfilment.

As we continue on this journey together, I invite you to reflect on how you can integrate spiritually intelligent leadership into your daily work life. 

Stay tuned for more insights and tips that will help you transform your corporate experience into one that's not only profitable but also deeply rewarding.