Spiritual Intelligence Leadership for CEOs, the Corporate World and Politicians. Scupoli′s wisdom and Ronald Stern Swiss Accuracy

Talkativeness is the mother of sloth, the sign of ignorance and folly, the door of slander the minister of falsehood, the destroyer of fervent devotion. A multitude of words adds strength to evil passions, by which again the tongue is the more easily led on to indiscreet talking.

I was reading the above quote last night and even though it is in the Chapter 24 of the book mentioned below (Lorenzo Scupoli′s Spiritual Combat) I simply raised my spirit reading it.

Whereas I am going to explain step by step why this, according to Scupoli, applies to CEOs, Corporate Officers and Politicians, we first need to learn from

-Geraldine Bown′s keynote: From Emotional Intelligence to Spiritual Intelligence

-Ronald Stern′s Accurate Swiss Doctrine on Leadership: His 10 commandments

-Sarah Alexander′s Spiritual Intelligence Leadership

Geraldine Bown′s keynote: From Emotional Intelligence to Spiritual Intelligence

In this article above referened I inserted this video from Geraldine Bown

Whereas I wholeheartedly recommend to read and apply the whole article and Geraldinés video Let us (as I did in that article) list a few of the excellent points raised by Geraldine and explained with our own words and inputs

1. Spirituality is not the same religion. People and corporations get confused and are scared/fearful with this

2. Spirituality is an individual journey from our ego to our best self.

3. The journey is from our ego to our higher consciousness.

4. Spirituality is part of a natural progression and by the way we are no longer in the Industrial Age or Information Age but in the Wisdom Age.

5. It is not about implying you are spiritual and no one else is but to look very internally your organizations to rescue and lift up all the parts of our team values (Physical. Mental, Spiritual)

6. Corporations and their CEOs get it wrong by putting focus on leadership programmes with "concepts" such as marketing, tools, strategy when the key issue is the spirit as Ronald Stern always said. I would further add that Harvard Business Review already explained why Marketing no longer exists both in 2012 and 2015. They all (CEOs/Corporations) fail to look deepen into themselves, it is clear

 Most of the points raised by Geraldine can be summarized by these excellent inputs from Albert Einstein. A picture is worth more than 1000 words

Ronald Stern′s doctrine on Leadership: 10 clear commandments

The Stern′s doctrine was detailed in this article on March 25th

which I recommend to read thoroughly as well as to apply the images and avatars included there.

There still is a great abuse with the term leader. All the inputs around Leadership during the last 30 years, lacked substance thus creating hype that had no practical value. 

This lack of practical value was because it was widely missed that leadership is not an endowed consequence of positionship, just as singing ability is not an endowed consequence of having a voice. The skills that people see in a leader are not always quantifiable or immediately recognizable but they know when they see it and they know when it is missing.

But – nowadays - being just a manager, is far from enough!. Ronald C. Stern already realized about it. That is why he daily makes his dissertations on Leadership in Linkedin

Many companies have been treating humans during the last 30 years as “resources” They will have to go again through the experience of treating humans as creators and innovators , because true leading means creating

? FUTURE,

? CONFIDENCE AND

? BELIEF IN IT.

While being aware of the company’s most important objective: its mission for its customers, as well as the vision where the company has to be in the future. Félix as a leader, is able to achieve a shared vision with his stakeholders and meets the following minimum requirements:

1) Ronald knows that a real leader is neither charismatic nor born. A leader is not born, because he is made; and when he ceases to make himself a leader, he has ceased to be one. The "born leader" is precisely what we do not need anymore; because he is a visceral and egomaniac one.

2) Ronald, as leader, demands more of himself, than others expect of him: He must be an example!. All his self-training, on top of a very satisfactory completion of his duties, evidences his exemplary role.

3) Ronald has the moral strength - as a leader - to be tough and demanding with his team mates, because he believes more in them, than they do in themselves. Affection and love are demanding. Always! - If not, they’re gone!

 4) A leader has a heart and love for each person of his team and needs to know the expectations each one has of the leader. If the leader cannot deliver, he says it clearly and transparently. As a leader, he offers friendship, not privileges. How Ronald interacts daily is indeed a first hand examples of this 4th leadership skill.

5) A leader does not tolerate the reign of fear in his team. He promotes courage and initiative of all individuals to take risks, make mistakes, in order to leave every day the limits of their comfort zone. He makes them grow, overcoming fear into challenge. Whereas his home base is in Madrid, Ronald would be capable of performing all these actions for any company in the world to the extent the team′s performance would always be enhancing.

6) Ronald understands that a leader is ahead, not “above”. He expects his peers to disagree openly. His communication style is wide open with both peers and superiors thereby earning the respect of both.

7) Ronald sticks to the principle that leader is a "primus inter pares" humbly working without whims and teaming up with peers. Shares sadness and joys, feasts and games with both his team in Madrid and his peers worldwide.

8) A leader hires people who are better than he is, and gives them opportunities to prove it. Ronald does not micromanage but always relies on his team of experts both locally and internationally.

9) A leader does not try to motivate others. Because he knows that it is neither possible nor desirable. Ronald sticks to Mandela′s and others′ principle of leading by example i.e. he knows his peers in Madrid will follow suit if he acts with a clear direction.

10) Last but not least, and perhaps more importantly, a leader creates the proper context for each person of his team, through which each one can motivate him/herself with challenges worthy of his /her pride. Ronald applies the principle that leadership is forward- oriented towards a better future to progress and progress is the realization of the impossible as “I am possible”. Making dreams come true is both a poetic and accurate definition of progress. Leadership is also upgrading at the right time to become a guide/guru of next generations. The ongoing success of Humanize Leadership is the real proof of it.  

Sarah Alexander Spiritual Intelligence Leadership

This link below is a summary of Sarah′s excellent book

The video is from www.sqi.co whose trainer Richard Griffiths has this wonderful starting quote

Spiritual Intelligence is based on experience, not on beliefs (Richard Griffiths)

The video is excellent as are the points raised by Sarah which are top notch. However I draw your attention to the fact that she concludes with the same ideas as Ronald Stern when she says "the first among equals". I would even fine tune this to say that Ronald is more precise when he says "primus inter pares" because it strictly means one among equals.

Scupoli: The spirit and Ronald Stern unique wisdom and application

As stated above by Geraldine spirituality does not have to be confused with religion. Although personally I think it helps a lot. To make this article business focused I continue summing up the tips from Lorenzo Scupoli supported by Ronald Stern′s unique wisdom on spiritual intelligence

The whole book is available here

and the Chapter 24 is this

It is very necessary that the tongue be well bridled and regulated because we are all much inclined to let it run on upon those things which are most pleasing to the senses.

Much speaking springs ordinarily from pride. We persuade ourselves that we know a great deal; we take delight in our own conceits, and endeavor by needless repetitions to impress them on the minds of others, that we may exercise a mastery over them, as though they needed instruction from us.

It is not possible to express in few words the many evils which arise from overmuch speaking.

Do not indulge in long conversations with those who are unwilling to hear you lest you weary them; nor with those who love to listen to you, lest you exceed the bounds of modesty.

Avoid loud and positive speaking, which is not only odious in itself, but is also a sign of presumption and vanity.

Never speak of thyself or thy doings, nor of thy kindred, except in case of absolute necessity, and then with all possible brevity and reserve. If others seem to speak overmuch of themselves, try to put a favorable construction upon their conduct; but do not imitate it, even though their words seem to tend to self-humiliation and self-accusation.

Speak as little as may be of your neighbor, or of anything concerning him, unless an occasion offers to say something in his praise.

Speak willingly of God, and especially of His love and goodness; but with fear and caution, lest even here you fall into error: rather take pleasure in listening while others speak of Him, treasuring up their words in the depth of your heart.

Let the sound of men's voices strike only upon your ear; do you meanwhile lift up your heart to God; and if you must needs listen to their discourse in order to understand and reply to it, yet neglect not to cast your eye in thought to heaven, where God dwelleth, and contemplate His loftiness, as He ever beholds your vileness.

Consider well the things which your heart suggests to you before they pass on to your tongue; for you will perceive that many of them would be better suppressed. Nay, I can still farther assure you, that not a few even of those which you will then think it expedient to speak would be far better buried in silence; and so you will perceive, upon reflection, when the opportunity for speaking is past.

Silence is a strong fortress in the spiritual combat, and a sure pledge of victory.

Silence is the friend of him who distrusts himself and trusts in God; it is the guard of holy prayer, and a wonderful aid in the practice of virtue.

In order to acquire the practice of silence, consider frequently the great benefits which arise therefrom, and the evils and dangers of talkativeness. Love this virtue; and in order to acquire the habit of it, keep silence occasionally, even at times when you might lawfully speak, provided this be not to your own prejudice, or to that of others.

And you will be greatly helped to this by withdrawing from the society of men; for in the place of this, you will have the society of angels, saints, and of God Himself.

Lastly, remember the combat which you have in hand, that, seeing you have so much to do, you may the more willingly refrain from all superfluous words.

In conclusion as I said in April 2015

It is 100% clear that the talkativeness of many CEOs, Business Leaders and Politicians is purely ego driven due to lack of spirituality. The problem is that none of them have read 4000 books to date like the Swiss Master Ronald C. Stern

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