Leading with Soul

Leading with soul – Lee G. Bolman, Terrence E. Deal

Leading with Soul by Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. Deal, subtitled An Uncommon Journey of Spirit, is a powerful story about one executive’s search for passion and purpose in work and in life. Inspired by visionary writers such as M. Scott Peck and Max De Pree, the authors have written a contemporary parable about Steve, a dispirited leader looking for something deeper and more satisfying than a preoccupation with the bottom line.

In this book Leading with Soul, Steve seeks answers from Maria, a sage whose wisdom was forged during her own hard-won business career. Although Maria’s first questions seem far removed from business, Steve unexpectedly discovers the true meaning of leadership. By finding his own soul, he learns to ignite the spirit of his organization. Along the way, the authors draw on many of the world’s major spiritual traditions, on poetry and philosophy, on social science research into leadership and organizations, and on their own extensive consulting experience. They offer inspiration, guidance and an invitation to explore the ties that bind spirituality and leadership together.

Lee Bolman and Terrence Deal are best known for their influential management classic Reframing Organizations, which introduced the idea of looking at organizations through four different “frames”. In Leading with Soul they take a more personal and spiritual route, showing that real leadership is not only about structures and strategy, but also about meaning, values and heart.

An inspiring book for managers, leaders, coaches and anyone looking for more meaning and purpose in their working life.