Abstract:
This study investigates the phenomenon of spiritual leadership manifested in Eastern Asia that has a different culture from Western. In this study, spirituality was conceptualized as secular spirituality, and its initiation was influenced by two philosophies in Eastern Asia (i.e., Confucianism and Taoism). Semi-structured interview-based qualitative research was conducted among 11 Chinese leaders. Template Analysis was used to analyze participants’ perception of spirituality and spirituality in leadership.
The research contributes to the literature in several aspects. First, the study contributed to spirituality by providing a systematic review in the business context in Eastern Asia and proposed the link between two Eastern Asian philosophies and spirituality. Second, the study contributes to spirituality literature by providing an understanding of spirituality and the role of Chinese philosophies in the initiation of spirituality. Third, this study contributes to spiritual leadership literature by providing examples of the application of spiritual leadership in the Eastern Asian context to explain how spiritual leadership manifested and the relationship between spirituality and leadership in the Chinese business context.
