Jonathan A. Smith

The Global SMP Fitness Framework: a guide for leaders exploring the relevance of spirituality in the workplace

Purpose – Although there is a growing emphasis on the importance of spirituality in the workplace, the majority of calls for leaders to consider the spiritual dimension fail to offer assistance in a meaningful way, and in a language to which leaders can relate, with the challenges of doing this. The purpose of this paper is to offer leaders practical guidance. After providing a summary of the reasons for a leader to examine spirituality in the workplace, questions are highlighted which look at how to nurture the spiritual dimension in the workplace.Design/methodology/approach – The authors have developed a holistic framework, and use this to guide leaders through the complexities of working with the spiritual phenomenon. They draw on their experience as leaders and on Smiths research with leaders of organisations, and his PhD, which explored the possibility of a greater spiritual focus within the UK police.Findings – Eight key questions for leaders are identified as the route through the complexities of ...

The current and future role of business schools

Purpose – Considerable debate since the global financial crisis has been evident concerning the role of business schools. This article aims to outline the authors’ research on their role.Design/methodology/approach – The paper begins with an overview of the significant literature highlighting the current debates impacting on business schools and their leaders. From this the authors argue that the most significant challenge is the role business schools should play in the resolution of urgent global issues. The paper then details and analyses the research and provides recommendations.Findings – The authors argue that the most significant challenge is the role business schools should play in the resolution of urgent global issues. The main finding from the research was that the leaders of participating business schools did not convey the impression that steering business toward helping humanity achieve a sustainable future and tackling urgent global issues was seen by them as one of their main current or fut...

The Relevance of Spirituality in Policing: A Dual Analysis

Operational policing is demanding and threatening. Repeatedly dealing with death, serious injury, horrific crime scenes, the need to be constantly alert whether on or off duty, and being ostracised by communities, friends and family, are only some examples of what officers encounter. All take their toll on police officers: on their health, fitness and well-being, and on their view of people and the world. The toll also extends to those who are served by these officers. While this toll is recognised, there are still high levels of sickness absence, ill health, alcohol/drug-related problems as well as suicides. These are clear illustrations of the challenging nature of policing. If we look at the deeper issues of these challenges — nature of policing and its struggle for good; not being recognised as whole people; not being treated as valuable parts of a community; the reality of facing death and destructiveness on a daily basis — we see that, at a fundamental level, these have a spiritual component to them. This is an important but often unrecognised aspect of policing. Forces emphasise the physical and mental well-being of officers but neglect their spiritual well-being. There are sound reasons for a greater focus on this area. It is morally appropriate to address this area. This paper draws from two PhDs. It identifies the issues related to coping strategies and officer fitness, highlights how the spiritual dimension may assist in the development of coping strategies, and identifies how these issues might be taken forward.

Policing and spirituality: their impact on brain integration and consciousness

This paper reports findings from two studies that explore the role of a spiritual framework in buffering toxic experiences police officers encounter in the course of their duty. The first study was an interview of 33 police officers who were active in their law enforcement career. The officers responded to eight core questions about their police work, spiritual history, and spiritual beliefs. Three themes emerged from the content analysis. The second study was a quantitative investigation of psychological performance using Electroencephalography measures. These officers, who were identified with high levels of spirituality in the interview study, had low levels of perceived stress, high levels on the Transcendence dimension, fast executive processing, and high levels of brain integration. These studies suggest that levels of spirituality are grounded in mental and brain functioning, and so could be systematically cultured to help officers deal effectively with the toxic nature of police work.

Globally fit leadership: four steps forward

Purpose – Businesses operate in a world facing a range of urgent global issues (UGIs). Unless an effective response is made in the near future, extremely damaging consequences are forecast. The purpose of this paper is to offer assistance to business leaders in balancing the short‐term local pressures with the long‐term global demands from these urgent issues.Design/methodology/approach – The paper offers proposals for four initial steps that can be considered by leaders for responding effectively to this global crisis.Findings – Four initial steps are proposed, and these steps are interconnected. The proposal includes a new conceptualisation of fitness and highlights the need for leadership fitness to responding effectively to this global crisis.Practical implications – The paper offers powerful reasons why business leaders have to engage more fully with global issues and proposes four pragmatic initial steps that will enable them to do this effectively.Social implications – The paper will encourage busi...

Exploring the nature of responsibility in higher education

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute to understanding of responsibility – specifically exploring responsibility in higher education.Design/methodology/approach – The paper details a research project undertaken in a higher education institute (HEI) in the UK. The research adopted a case study approach and gathered data through 15 semi‐structured interviews.Findings – The paper discusses four key findings. Major differences in how responsibility is understood and communicated by students, staff and leaders are highlighted, together with the challenges this creates. A model is proposed that may assist with a greater understanding of responsibility.Research limitations/implications – The research is a small‐scale study involving 15 interviews in one HEI in the UK, therefore generalisations must be treated with caution. The research offers valuable insights into this under‐researched area, together with recommendations for further research.Practical implications – The paper highlights key facto...

“I wanted to find a way to serve others”: Interview with Chief Constable Adrian Lee:Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a valuable perspective on leadership within the police force.Design/methodology/approach – In this interview, Adrian Lee talks candidly with Sue Howard and Jonathan Smith about the current challenges facing police and public sector leadership.Findings – Chief constable Adrian Lees studies of theology, philosophy and law prior to him joining the police service have shaped and formed his sense of vocation and the values that are now central to many of the fundamental issues of leadership that the police service have to consider.Originality/value – This paper provides the valuable perspective of a chief constable on the challenges facing leaders in the police force, and applies this to the public sector more generally. Chief Constable Adrian Lee believes that vision, values and vocation are essential elements for effective policing in the twenty‐first century.

Ensuring leadership fitness: lessons from policing

Purpose – Policing is an enormously challenging occupation. Despite the difficulties, however, the vast majority of police officers are extremely resilient and demonstrate high levels of self‐control, compassion, professionalism and love for the work they have chosen to do. Their dedication to service is inspiring. These officers appear to have the ability to re‐direct their emotionally charged frustrations and use the experiences to create new meaning and compassion. This paper seeks to look at what leaders in all public‐sector organisations can learn from these resilient officers, and to look at what can be done to ensure these leaders are fully fit for the role they have to perform in these challenging times of austerity and cutback.Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on extensive research in this area, this paper provides the authors view on lessons from policing that can be applied across the public sector.Findings – The author argues that when the deeper issues are considered, many of the challen...