Leading with Spirit, Presence, and Authenticity presents the perspectives of leaders, social scientists, and educators from around the world on the topic of developing inner wisdom. Structured around the notions of spirit, presence, and authenticity, the book encourages readers to reflect on their own lives as they read about their colleagues' diverse experiences, all in an effort to address difficult global systems challenges with a foundation of various wisdom lineages and practices.

Each chapter is introduced by an editor with deep background experience in the topic at hand, and the book includes an examination of research on the essential nature of authenticity among leaders. Stories of leadership initiative from across nations illustrate the truly global nature of leadership inspiration, and accounts of teaching mindfulness, guiding leaders, and leading in the arts and humanities integrate critical theory with authentic leadership development. Topics include:

• Subtle interdependencies involved in modern leadership
• The contribution of sociological mindfulness to leadership education
• Authentic leadership as communicated through technology
• The role of spirit, and what the world needs from leaders

A diverse mix of contributors, including a Sufi teacher, a social science journal editor, and a CEO, provide a truly inclusive examination of the ways a leader is defined by self and others. Leading with Spirit, Presence, and Authenticity, a volume in the International Leadership Series Building Leadership Bridges from the International Leadership Association, helps connect ways of researching, imagining, and experiencing leadership across cultures, over time, and around the world.

Leading with Spirit, Presence, and Authenticity presents voices from around the world focused on developing leaders' inner wisdom. Edited by an international team of scholars, readers will want to reflect on their own choices as they read of their colleagues' diverse experiences teaching mindfulness, coaching leaders, and leading. The carefully selected chapters offer thoughtful discussions by a CEO, a globally noted consultant, an African higher education administrator, and a Japanese change agent, alongside experiences and research by educators from four continents. In keeping with the mission of the International Leadership Association, the Building Leadership Bridges series connects ways of researching, imagining, and experiencing leadership across cultures, over time, and around the world.

Praise for Leading with Spirit, Presence, and Authenticity

"This is a marvelously rich book. I commend it highly."
-Ian I. Mitroff, professor emeritus, University of Southern California

"This book is a timely reminder that leadership takes courage to remain in the present moment, to accept the ambiguity and uncertainty that is often part of the present, and to be willing to ask probing questions to start the conversation. I come away with the certainty that I need to read it again and again to appreciate the new way of thinking that the thought-provoking questions found in the chapters have stirred up within."
-Dawn Brown, head of Perception Shift, international speaker, author, and psychotherapist

"Professor Goldman Schuyler has the unique talent of being able to combine the best of social science with profound humanitarian insights, as well as psychological perspectives and a good heart. The readers of her book will be better for it, on more levels than they will at first realize."
-Amitai Etzioni, author of My Brother's Keeper

"This is by no means a standard leadership book. Rather, it emphasizes the possibilities of higher purpose in leadership. It focuses on spiritual practice, awareness, mindfulness, and ways to develop in these, in multiple types of leadership settings and from multiple religious traditions. It illustrates the value of such development for leadership action aimed at creating a better world. It will be very inspirational for aspiring leaders and current leaders alike."
-Jean M. Bartunek, professor, Management and Organization Department, Boston College