Experience of attending a science of spirituality class in an MBA program at SPJIMR

Throughout history, rulers have relied on councils of advisors for guidance in decision-making. For instance, in ancient Egypt, viziers served as chief advisors to pharaohs, while Chandragupta Maurya's "Mantriparishad" in India guided him in governance. These ministers/advisors advised the emperor on governance, administration, and diplomacy. Spiritual wise men and women have always used their knowledge to guide the leader. For instance, In India, in the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna serves as a spiritual guide to Prince Arjuna, imparting teachings on duty, righteousness, and the path to spiritual realization. Krishna's guidance includes philosophical insights and practical wisdom, influencing Arjuna's decisions during the Mahabharata war. There are many sacred books widely used in management studies, to help build core values for leading successfully. For instance, In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna or the Dao De Ching, Lao Tzu taught self-mastery, ethics, and ways to build inner peace, thereby helping leaders develop consciousness, self-awareness, and wisdom. Likewise, the practice of yoga, or other ancient spiritual tools such as meditation, tai-chi, qigong, praying and so on, was done to cultivate physical health, mental clarity, and spiritual balance, qualities essential for being an effective leader. These practices also help the individual to better manage their emotions and thereby have better relationships with others.? In a review of 150 studies, it was revealed that inculcating spiritual values and practices indeed led to effective leadership. The same was also found in another qualitative research study, wherein spirituality led to more authenticity, ethical actions and self-awareness, which improved well-being.?

As time passed, systems changed and ancient spiritual practices seemed to take a back seat, which could be one of the reasons for some disastrous events witnessed in the form of leaders e.g. Mussolini, Hitler, etc. Perhaps, driven by ideologies of power dynamics, and personal ambitions disregarding human rights, with a lack of spiritual practice is the reason for faulty leadership. Hence, to be an efficient leader it is not merely business strategies that are needed but also science of spirituality.?

In my recent experience of attending a science of spirituality class for the MBA program at S.P.Jain School of Management and Research, I found that the traditional business management curriculum is infused with ancient spiritual practices and teachings. Each class session is structured to ensure the following components are both taught as well as experienced by students.

Following are a few main components/themes of the class:?

• Spiritual Practices (Tai-chi, meditation etc): The importance of mindfulness has been well acknowledged and researched. The class is structured to introduce students to ancient traditional practices of tai chi and meditation, both of which help imbibe and cultivate mindfulness. Students are made to experience and become aware of how these practices help and support their well-being. These practices have been proven to help build more clarity, calmness of mind, concentration, and focus which are essential traits for a leader8,12.
• Power of Questioning: Classroom teaching is in the form of conversations and dialogues, which according to me takes the form of Socratic methodology of learning from questioning. The famous Greek philosopher Socrates indulged in questioning and conversation to find answers and learn about a given topic. This methodology is crucial for becoming a great leader, as it teaches students to question, to be active listeners to reason, to reflect, to admit that one may not have all the answers, to concentrate and to challenge one's belief system helping build a broader perspective. For instance, in the classroom, the instructor poses open-ended questions, such as "What does it mean to be an ethical leader?" Rather than providing a direct answer, the instructor encourages students to explore their definitions and reasoning.
• Power of Vulnerability: The classroom is structured to facilitate open dialogue and conversations about perspectives, thought processes and belief systems. The conversations involve becoming aware of and acknowledging the flaws and then discussing ways to overcome them, in front of the entire class. For example, a student shares their fear of making mistakes in front of others, sparking a conversation on how embracing mistakes as learning opportunities can build resilience and foster a growth mindset in leadership. Students become aware of the power of vulnerability and equally learn the significance of empathy for self and others. It helps to teach the need for active listening, creating a safe space for vulnerability, and empathy,? all of which are crucial to being an effective leader.
• Importance of building values: Spiritual teaching has enforced the need for building values such as humility, empathy, integrity, ethical behaviour, compassion and so on which are needed and a must to be an impactful leader. The topics covered teach students the significance of building values and leading by them rather than merely applying leadership theories. The case studies that students solve, help them to learn faulty leadership styles as well as the importance and significance of values and ethics. For example: students analyze a case study about a leader/manager who prioritized profits over employee well-being, resulting in high turnover and low morale. Through this analysis, they learn that while traditional leadership theories might emphasize results, values such as integrity and compassion are crucial for sustainable success, encouraging them to adopt a more ethical leadership approach in their future careers.

In conclusion, integrating ancient spiritual wisdom and traditional practices into modern leadership education offers a pathway to cultivating more conscious, ethical, and effective leaders. By emphasizing self-awareness, emotional mastery, empathy, and ethical behaviour, these teachings address the need for leaders who can balance personal ambition with a commitment to the greater good. The incorporation of such values into management curricula, as seen in institutions like S.P. Jain School of Management and Research, not only nurtures essential leadership qualities but also prepares future leaders to navigate complex challenges with wisdom and compassion. This approach suggests that the blend of spiritual wisdom and modern leadership principles is crucial for fostering a more balanced, ethical, and inclusive form of leadership in contemporary times.

Divya Ramani

Center of Wisdom in Leadership?

References:

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