The Role and Implications of Values-based Leadership

ABSTRACT

This paper aims at analysing conceptually spiritual leadership in the organizational field. First, we identify if a relation between spirituality and leadership can exist and then if and how this influences employer/employees reciprocal behaviour. In the early years, the focus has changed, trying to deepen the differences between religion and spirituality and emphasizing the last one as a source of success for leaders. We focused on the understanding of the effects that spirituality has on the system of values and the role of values and emotions in determining a successful leader. Finally, we emphasize the role of values-based leadership capabilities within strategic management, aiming at highlighting the importance of a shared system of values in leading employees.

KEYWORDS:

• Values-based leadership
• spirituality
• trust

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Valentina Della Corte is Associate Professor of Business Management at Federico II University of Naples. Her research is focused on strategic management and marketing and in particular resource-based theory, business networks and coopetition, dynamic capabilities, value creation and appropriation, both intra- and inter-firm. She is the author of numerous publications in national and international academic journals such as Tourism Management, European Journal of Innovation Management, Corporate Ownership and Control, International Journal of Business and Management, International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences, International Journal of Marketing Studies. She is the Aauthor of books published by Egea, CEDAM and Giappichelli as well as of chapters in books edited by Elgar and McGraw Hill. She has participated, also as chair and reviewer, to at national and international conferences such as Strategic Management Society Annual Meeting, Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Italian Academy of Management Annual Meeting, International Marketing Trends Conference, Forum on Marketing and Markets, and AIDEA Annual Meeting.

Giovanna Del Gaudio is Ph.D. in Business Administration at University of Naples Federico II (Italy). She published many book chapters and papers in both national and international journals.

Fabiana Sepe is a PhD candidate of Management at the University of Naples Federico II. Her research focuses on tourism destinations, innovative marketing, concentrating upon the application of resource-based view and open and user innovation perspectives in the tourism industry.

Giuseppina Zamparelli is Ph.D. in Business Administration at University of Naples Federico II (Italy). She is author of national and international academic contributions.