Spiritual Grounding as an Influence on Servant Leadership Practice Among Senior Executives in U.S. Publicly Traded Companies

This dissertation investigates the influence of spiritual grounding on the practice of servant leadership among senior executives in publicly traded companies in the United States (U.S.). The research problem centers on the potential marginalization of individuals aspiring to practice servant leadership without spiritual grounding. The study aims to investigate whether spiritual grounding is foundational for servant leadership practice and to examine the relationship between servant leadership, spiritual grounding, and reliance on authoritative sources. Through a comprehensive review and analysis of existing literature, this research identifies a gap in understanding the role of spirituality and authoritative sources in servant leadership practices. The methodology involves a quantitative analysis of the relationship between spiritual grounding, authoritative sources, and servant leadership practices, utilizing data from senior executives in U.S. public companies. The results demonstrate a significant influence of spiritual grounding on servant leadership practices, indicating a strong link between an individual’s spiritual beliefs and their ability to practice servant leadership. The regression, Pearson correlation coefficient, and moderation analyses reveal that spiritual grounding plays a significant role in the practice of servant leadership among senior executives in publicly traded companies. The data indicates that personal spirituality and experiences are more influential in shaping servant leadership behaviors than traditional authoritative sources. These results align with existing literature that highlights the synergistic relationship between servant leadership and spirituality, emphasizing the importance of spiritual values in enhancing leadership practices. The regression analysis for the relationship between authoritative sources and servant leadership practice shows no significant positive influence of authoritative sources on servant leadership practice, with most p-values indicating non-significance, suggesting that while authoritative sources may influence spiritual grounding, they do not directly influence the practice of servant leadership among senior executives. This underscores the intricate relationship between servant leadership practices, spiritual grounding, and authoritative sources, offering additional insights for leadership development programs. This dissertation contributes to the broader discourse on servant leadership. Recommendations for further study include exploring alternative foundations for servant leadership and investigating the implications of these results for leadership advancement programs in diverse organizational settings. This research opens avenues for a more holistic understanding of servant leadership, emphasizing the role of innate service and care characteristics over spiritual or authoritative affiliation.