LEADING WITH SOUL BY BOLMAN AND DEAL

Bolman and Deal’s book titled Leading with Soul is based on the central premise that spirit and soul are the essence of leadership. <br><br>In this parable, Bolman and Deal is describing the spiritual journey of a man to find the essence of his own leadership style. This story provides applicable models which inspires leaders on the quest for effective leadership. <br><br>The story is about Steve, a corporate executive who has accumulated numerous successes in his career. In spite of his accomplishments and material gains he is left unproductive and discouraged. Steve lacks something important in his leadership journey. John, his mentor and boss introduces him to speak with Maria, a wise sage. Maria has followed her own spiritual journey to fulfillment and is able to help him find what he is missing in his life. <br><br>Through Steve, Bolman and Deal describe the principles of leadership as more personal in nature. It is about personal peace than the ability to control one’s followers. In order to be complete in one’s journey and to be an effective leader, one need to “treasure the gift of spirit…share it…lead with soul by giving it to others.” They further state that the focus for any individual’s spiritual journey should be in a higher power of one’s own choosing; that is choosing your own mentor. <br><br>In the process of interaction, Steve discovers that the behaviors that contributed to his successful career are no longer operational to his gain. He believes that power and control are necessary to lead his organization. However, Maria advises that in the quest for leadership, “Spirit and Faith are the core of human life.” A leader must not seek for control, power and wealth. Maria persuades Steve to think of the tragedies he has suffered in life as his greatest teachers. <br><br>Steve is introduced to heart as the foundation of leadership and to the journey to rediscover his soul. Steve unlocks his heart and begins to challenge feelings that he has kept suppressed for years and begins to appreciate the role of prayer in discovering his heart. <br><br>Steve learns that gifts of authorship, power, love and significance are complements in our lives and that they work only when they are freely given and freely received. According to Maria, power must be given in order to gain power. When giving power away, one empowers others. At the culmination of the story we see that developing other spiritual leaders, becomes Steve’s primary role as a leader.<br><br>The book contains seven sections which are based on the steps that Steve experiences in the process of transformation into a leader with soul. It has the sections of fictional exploration of the journey called “The Search” under five headings (The Search, Conviction, Gifts, Sharing, and A New Life) and sections of reflection called “Interludes.” Interludes gives a reader an opportunity for reflection. Towards the end is the “Postlude” which offers a clear purpose of why the authors organized and wrote the book. Bolman and Deal conclude the book with a chapter entitled, “The Cycle of Spirit.” It calls for readers to embark on their own spiritual journey, using the story of Steve and Maria as a guide. <br><br>It is not an easy-to-read book because the author has not given a clear index, it requires a serious reader to find concepts of leadership. I highly recommend the book that it should be read by all leaders as it provides a rich research source. Having gone through this journey myself I will introduce others to embark on the same journey of the spirit. Steve and Mary’s story has the magical power to transform a mere leader like myself to lead with a soul.<br>