A Narrative Inquiry into Contemplative Leadership: Concepts, Characteristics, Challenges, Opportunities Cui Ying Gao M.A. in Spirituality M.A. in Leadership and Pastoral Care A Dissertation Submitted to Dublin City University in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of PhD Supervisors: Dr. John Murray and Dr. Margaret Benefiel School of Theology, Philosophy, and Music Dublin City University January 2018 Declaration I hereby certify that this material, which I now submit for assessment on the programme of study leading to the award of PhD is entirely my own work, and that I have exercised reasonable care to ensure that the work is original, and does not to the best of my knowledge breach any law of copyright, and has not been taken from the work of others save and to the extent that such work has been cited and acknowledged within the text of my work. Signed: _________________________ (Candidate) ID No.: 14113864 Date: ______________________ i Dedication This thesis is dedicated to the memory of my late father, and my eldest sister who passed away when I began this research. Their ability to lead with love has been an inspiration for me. ii Acknowledgements I wish to acknowledge with gratitude the many people who have supported me through the process of this doctoral thesis. I thank my family and relatives for their continue love, care and constant support, especially my mother, my two sisters, two brothers, ten nieces and ten nephews. My sincere thanks go to my good friends Huiying, Ziwen, Wangmin, Wusheng, Majella, Noreen, Kasha, Catriona, Beata, Laura, and Tina for their prayers and encouragement. I am most grateful to Dr. John Murray and Dr. Margaret Benefiel, my two supervisors, for their insight, guidance, expertise, and always kind support. Heart-felt gratitude to the many friends from the Holy Hope, the Holy Ghosts, the Marists, the Christian Brothers, the Columbans, the Vincentian communities, especially Caihong, Linqiao, Suxia, Sanhuan, Fengzhi, Denis, Jim, Pat, Brendan, Declan, Frank, Pauline, Paddy, Seamus, Tommy, Kevin for their kindness, friendship, generosity, and help. I am very grateful to the sixteen contemplative leaders who participated in the research without whom this project would not have been possible. I very much appreciate their time, openness and honesty during the interview process. Their stories added so much richness and authenticity to this research. Sincere thanks to the lecturers at All Hallows College, especially Dr, Bernadette Flanagan, Dr. Michael O’Sullivan, and Dr. Marjorie Fitzpatrick. Their personal advice and encouragement were extremely helpful at the beginning stages of my research. Genuine gratitude to my fellow students, Azenda, Bernadette, Francis, and Ken for being companions on the journey, for their friendship and support during the last few years. Heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Michael Flannery for helping me with the graphic for the model in chapter six. I thank him for his professional expertise and time. Thanks a lot to the Library staff for their kindness, help and patience. I am most thankful to the internal and external examiners for taking time reading this thesis. Last, but not least, I thank my God who has nourished me with unconditional love and new insights and brought this work to a blessed end. iii Table of Contents Declaration i Dedication ii Acknowledgements iii Table of Contents iv List of Figures x Abstract xi Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1 Exploring the Development of Leadership Theories ................................. 6 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 6 1.2 Having-centred Leadership Theories ......................................................................... 6 1.3 Doing-centred Leadership Theories .......................................................................... 7 1.4. Vision-centred Leadership Theories ......................................................................... 9 1.4.1 Charismatic Leadership ................................................................................. 9 1.4.2 Transformational Leadership ......................................................................... 10 1.5 Moral-centred Leadership Theories ........................................................................ 12 1.5.1 Authentic Leadership .................................................................................... 13 1.5.1.1 Bill George’s Understanding of Authentic Leadership ................. 14 1.5.1.2 Further Development of Authentic Leadership ............................ 15 1.5.2 Ethical Leadership ........................................................................................ 17 1.5.2.1 Characteristics of Ethical Leadership ........................................... 18 1.5.2.2 Definition of Ethical Leadership ................................................... 19 1.5.2.3 Orientations of Ethical Leadership ............................................... 19 1.5.3 Mindful Leadership ...................................................................................... 21 1.5.3.1 Defining Mindfulness ................................................................... 21 1.5.3.2 Mindful Leadership ...................................................................... 22 1.5.3.3 Nine Skills for Mindful Leadership .............................................. 22 1.6 Spirit-Centred Leadership Theories ......................................................................... 25 1.6.1 Servant leadership ......................................................................................... 26 1.6.1.1 Defining Servant Leadership ........................................................ 26 1.6.1.2 Measurement of Servant Leadership ............................................ 27 1.6.1.3 A Model of Servant Leadership .................................................... 27 1.6.1.4 Spiritual Values of Servant Leadership ........................................ 32 1.6.2 Spiritual leadership ....................................................................................... 33 1.6.2.1 Definition of Spiritual Leadership ................................................ 33 1.6.2.2 Spiritual Leadership Model ………………………………………34 1.6.2.3 Components of Spiritual Leadership Model ................................. 35 iv 1.6.2.4 Benefiel’s Contribution to Spiritual Leadership ........................... 39 1.7 Being-Centred Leadership Theory .......................................................................... 48 1.7.1 Level V: Leadership in the Physical and Sensory World ............................. 49 1.7.2 Level IV: Leadership at the Level of Images and Imagination .................... 50 1.7.3 Level III: Leadership from the Soul ........................................................... 51 1.7.4 Level II: Leadership from the Level of Spirit ............................................... 52 1.7.5 Level I: Leadership at the Non-Dual level. ................................................. 53 1.8 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 55 Chapter 2 The Christian Contemplative Tradition ................................. 57 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 57 2.2 A Brief Historical Account of Christian Mysticism ............................................... 57 2.2.1 Mysticism in the Old Testament ................................................................... 58 2.2.2 Mysticism in the New Testament ................................................................ 59 2.2.3 Mystical Elements in the Greek Fathers ....................................................... 60 2.2.4 The Monastic Movement and Mysticism ..................................................... 61 2.2.5 Early Church Fathers .................................................................................... 63 2.2.6 The Middle Ages .......................................................................................... 66 2.2.7 Spanish Mystics of the 16th Century ............................................................. 72 2.2.8 The Twentieth Century Revival of Mysticism .............................................. 76 2.2.9. Karl Rahner’s Everyday Mysticism ............................................................ 81 2.3 The Mystical Path: Contemplative Prayer ............................................................. 84 2.3.1 Contemplation Defined ................................................................................. 84 2.3.2 Forms of Contemplative Practice .................................................................. 85 2.3.3 Contemplation and Contemplative Practice………………………………... 86 2.4 The Contemplative Journey: An Interior Journey ................................................ 87 2.4.1 Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle ................................................................... 87 2.4.2 The Inward Journey ...................................................................................... 88 2.4.3 The First Dwelling Place .............................................................................. 89 2.4.4 The Second Dwelling Place .......................................................................... 90 2.4.5 The Third