Maximizing the Triple Bottom Line Through Spiritual Leadership
Louis W. Fry and Melissa Sadler Nisiewicz
Imprint: Stanford Business Books
January 2013
352 Pages
Hardcover ISBN: 9780804776363
Paperback ISBN: 9780804785082
Ebook ISBN: 9780804784290
Maximizing the Triple Bottom Line through Spiritual Leadership draws on the emerging fields of workplace spirituality and spiritual leadership to teach leaders and their constituencies how to develop business models that address issues of ethical leadership, employee well-being, sustainability, and social responsibility without sacrificing profitability, growth, and other metrics of performance excellence.
While this text identifies and discusses the characteristics necessary to be a leader, its major focus is on leadership—engaging stakeholders and enabling groups of people to work together in the most meaningful ways. The authors offer real-world examples of for-profit and non-profit organizations that have spiritual leaders and which have implemented organizational spiritual leadership. These cases are based on over ten years of research, supported by the International Institute of Spiritual Leadership, that demonstrates the value of the Spiritual Leadership Balanced Scorecard Business Model presented in the book. "Pracademic" in its orientation, the book presents a general process and tools for implementing the model.
"The approach that Fry and Nisiewicz have taken is fresh, appropriately reflective, and uniquely grounded. Contrary to 'soft' treatments of this popular theme, their book links spirituality to effective leadership and more specifically and concretely defines spiritual leadership."—Kent Rhodes, Pepperdine University, Family Business Consulting Group, and Founder, OnCourse Network, Inc.
"If anyone wonders what 'spiritual leadership' means, the answer is clearly and cogently presented in this wonderful book. It includes excellent business examples and directly relates spirituality and the bottom line. Maximizing the Triple Bottom Line through Spiritual Leadership is the next 'must read' book for anyone who takes leadership seriously."—Eric B. Dent, University of North Carolina, Pembroke
"It is easy enough to see that personal spiritual values inform the way one leads in business. Co-authored by one of the foremost champions of research and training in spiritual leadership, this book goes a step further, arguing that spiritually-informed leadership improves performance in terms of profits, people, and the planet."—Jonathan Gosling, Centre for Leadership Studies, University of Exeter
"If you are a scholar or practitioner interested in spiritual leadership, sustainability, ethics, or social responsibility, read this book! With the models and approaches that the authors provide, it is the most complete and useful treatise on spiritual leadership."—Robert A. Giacalone, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Management, Spirituality, and Religion and co-editor of the Handbook of Workplace Spirituality and Organizational Performance
"A powerful, well written, and engaging book from keen thought leaders! Maximizing the Triple Bottom Line through Spiritual Leadership is full of real-world examples which emphasize that sustainable business models balance profit with wider concerns that, at a fundamental level, have a spiritual foundation."—Jonathan Smith, Anglia Ruskin University
"Since 2005, we at Maxwell Locke & Ritter have been using the 'triple bottom line' to measure our success and areas for growth. Jody Fry's vision of spiritual leadership has been instrumental in this process. This book is a wonderful guide for any organization that wants to create a culture of connection and purpose."—Fred Frey, Partner, Maxwell Locke & Ritter LLP
"Maximizing the Triple Bottom Line Through Spiritual Leadership is grounded in pioneering research on spiritual leadership and enriched with practical applications through case studies and models. I've met many leaders who feel inspired and called to run organizations that are more sustainable and more nurturing to the human spirit, but they didn't know where to start. With this book, not only can they get started, they have guidance for the whole journey. We've been waiting a long time for a book like this."—Judi Neal, Director, Tyson Center for Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace, University of Arkansas
"Think of the business benefits of tapping into the intangible, life affirming force in all human beings. What if more business leaders experienced their work as a sense of calling? Fry and Nisiewicz set out a strong case that the spiritual leadership model really can help to achieve this potential."—Rob MacLachlan, Editor, People Management and Chair, One Spirit Interfaith Foundation
"This is a book long overdue. The authors complement their compelling case for an organization's multiple bottom line by providing an extensive model and practical tools for effectively implementing spiritual leadership. Fry and Nisiewicz are on to something important here and the wise leader stands to benefit from their advice. Find a place to keep the book within arms' reach. You'll refer to it often."—Peter C. Hill, co-editor of The Psychology of Religion and Workplace Spirituality and co-author of The Psychology of Religion
"For many people in the worlds of business and politics, juxtaposing the words 'spiritual' and 'leadership' is off-putting, and quite possibly both pretentious and risible. This book exposes the pitfalls of such a position, giving practical examples of successful leaders and effective leadership practices across a range of organizations in which spiritual leadings have played an explicit role. It is a 'must read' for anyone interested in either leadership or the spiritual dimension of organizational development."—Ann Limb, Chair, Helena Kennedy Foundation
"Few books exist on spiritual leadership and its effectiveness, and fewer still tell compelling stories and are based on solid data. Maximizing the Triple Bottom Line makes a major contribution to research on leadership and sustainability. By looking at the importance of love, altruism, and reflective personal practice to leadership, and by providing a way to measure their impact, Louis Fry and Melissa Sadler Nisiewicz enable us to take these fundamental notions into consideration in the ways that businesses want to: their impact on the bottom line."—Kathryn Goldman Schuyler, Alliant International University and President of Coherent Change
"Spiritual leadership appears as our next threshold for resolving the paradox of profitability and humanity's most profound needs. This book offers a holistic approach, pragmatic business cases, success stories, accessible concepts, and how-to methods that encourage leaders to break through antiquated business models and apply creative solutions."—Richard Major, Former Worldwide Director of Human Resources, Hewlett-Packard, and former Vice President, Human Resources, Global Business Partners and Worldwide Operations, Solectron Corporation
"Clear, inspiring, compelling—A must-read for anyone who cares about the future of business and the future of the planet."—Margaret Benefiel, author of Soul at Work and The Soul of a Leader
"If anyone wonders what 'spiritual leadership' means, the answer is clearly and cogently presented in this wonderful book. It includes excellent business examples and directly relates spirituality and the bottom line. Maximizing the Triple Bottom Line through Spiritual Leadership is the next 'must read' book for anyone who takes leadership seriously."—Eric B. Dent, University of North Carolina, Pembroke
"It is easy enough to see that personal spiritual values inform the way one leads in business. Co-authored by one of the foremost champions of research and training in spiritual leadership, this book goes a step further, arguing that spiritually-informed leadership improves performance in terms of profits, people, and the planet."—Jonathan Gosling, Centre for Leadership Studies, University of Exeter
"If you are a scholar or practitioner interested in spiritual leadership, sustainability, ethics, or social responsibility, read this book! With the models and approaches that the authors provide, it is the most complete and useful treatise on spiritual leadership."—Robert A. Giacalone, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Management, Spirituality, and Religion and co-editor of the Handbook of Workplace Spirituality and Organizational Performance
"A powerful, well written, and engaging book from keen thought leaders! Maximizing the Triple Bottom Line through Spiritual Leadership is full of real-world examples which emphasize that sustainable business models balance profit with wider concerns that, at a fundamental level, have a spiritual foundation."—Jonathan Smith, Anglia Ruskin University
"Since 2005, we at Maxwell Locke & Ritter have been using the 'triple bottom line' to measure our success and areas for growth. Jody Fry's vision of spiritual leadership has been instrumental in this process. This book is a wonderful guide for any organization that wants to create a culture of connection and purpose."—Fred Frey, Partner, Maxwell Locke & Ritter LLP
"Maximizing the Triple Bottom Line Through Spiritual Leadership is grounded in pioneering research on spiritual leadership and enriched with practical applications through case studies and models. I've met many leaders who feel inspired and called to run organizations that are more sustainable and more nurturing to the human spirit, but they didn't know where to start. With this book, not only can they get started, they have guidance for the whole journey. We've been waiting a long time for a book like this."—Judi Neal, Director, Tyson Center for Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace, University of Arkansas
"Think of the business benefits of tapping into the intangible, life affirming force in all human beings. What if more business leaders experienced their work as a sense of calling? Fry and Nisiewicz set out a strong case that the spiritual leadership model really can help to achieve this potential."—Rob MacLachlan, Editor, People Management and Chair, One Spirit Interfaith Foundation
"This is a book long overdue. The authors complement their compelling case for an organization's multiple bottom line by providing an extensive model and practical tools for effectively implementing spiritual leadership. Fry and Nisiewicz are on to something important here and the wise leader stands to benefit from their advice. Find a place to keep the book within arms' reach. You'll refer to it often."—Peter C. Hill, co-editor of The Psychology of Religion and Workplace Spirituality and co-author of The Psychology of Religion
"For many people in the worlds of business and politics, juxtaposing the words 'spiritual' and 'leadership' is off-putting, and quite possibly both pretentious and risible. This book exposes the pitfalls of such a position, giving practical examples of successful leaders and effective leadership practices across a range of organizations in which spiritual leadings have played an explicit role. It is a 'must read' for anyone interested in either leadership or the spiritual dimension of organizational development."—Ann Limb, Chair, Helena Kennedy Foundation
"Few books exist on spiritual leadership and its effectiveness, and fewer still tell compelling stories and are based on solid data. Maximizing the Triple Bottom Line makes a major contribution to research on leadership and sustainability. By looking at the importance of love, altruism, and reflective personal practice to leadership, and by providing a way to measure their impact, Louis Fry and Melissa Sadler Nisiewicz enable us to take these fundamental notions into consideration in the ways that businesses want to: their impact on the bottom line."—Kathryn Goldman Schuyler, Alliant International University and President of Coherent Change
"Spiritual leadership appears as our next threshold for resolving the paradox of profitability and humanity's most profound needs. This book offers a holistic approach, pragmatic business cases, success stories, accessible concepts, and how-to methods that encourage leaders to break through antiquated business models and apply creative solutions."—Richard Major, Former Worldwide Director of Human Resources, Hewlett-Packard, and former Vice President, Human Resources, Global Business Partners and Worldwide Operations, Solectron Corporation
"Clear, inspiring, compelling—A must-read for anyone who cares about the future of business and the future of the planet."—Margaret Benefiel, author of Soul at Work and The Soul of a Leader
Louis W. Fry is Professor of Management at Texas A&M University-Central Texas. He is the founder of the International Institute for Spiritual Leadership. Melissa Sadler Nisiewicz is a management consultant serving as an advisor to several Fortune 500 corporations. She has worked in an advisory capacity with the International Institute for Spiritual Leadership.
