Abstract
Changes in the business environment necessitate a new type of future leadership. Given that the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the way people live, connect, communicate and work, a new leadership style is required. Faith can play a role in modern leadership by providing a solid ethical foundation and a sense of purpose and meaning that transcends material gain. In addition to emphasising empathy, compassion and humility in their leadership style, leaders who prioritise their Christian faith can contribute to a more positive and supportive company culture. Moreover, Christ-centred leaders may prioritise the welfare of their employees and aim to serve their communities, which can contribute to a more socially responsible and sustainable business model. This study aimed to determine whether Christian religiosity among senior leaders in the South African workplace context facilitated sustainable employee excellence amid COVID-19, not only in the individuals themselves, but also in the workplace. To this end, the study aimed to contribute to the understanding of leadership during trying times, by exploring how Christian leaders used their faith in sustaining employee excellence through the COVID-19 pandemic.
For this study, leaders at an executive level (N = 14) were selected by purposive, convenience and snowball sampling. Their intimate experiences, their pain, hopes and fears during such an adverse time in history was explored through semi-structured interviews. These yielded rich data that were systematically analysed by means of a grounded-theory methodology. Computer-based (ATLAS.ti) qualitative data analysis techniques were used to identify the four main themes: (a) leadership, (b) expression of faith in the workplace, (c) personal faith experiences and (d) resilience and adaptation in the face of crisis. These themes were used to develop a framework of ways in which business leaders can positively influence their workplaces by their Christian world view and through their everyday living.
While no study to date has directly explored the role of religion in dealing with pandemics, literature does provide empirical evidence that religion can function as a buffer in dealing with traumatic life events. Leadership integrated with the Christian faith, known as Christ-centred leadership, emerged as a holistic and impactful
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approach. Literature suggests that faith can positively influence work intentions and practices, assisting in creating ethical and efficient workplaces. Christian leaders, through the ethical guidance they provide and the personal example they set, have the potential to fill the “values vacuum” in the corporate world. This study’s findings highlight the significance of integrating faith in developing effective and purpose-driven leadership, providing valuable insights for organisations seeking sustainable excellence guided by Christian religiosity. The study makes recommendations for future research and practice in this field.
Keywords:
Christian religiosity, Christianity at work, COVID-19, faith-based leadership, Christ-centred leadership, leadership, sustainable employee excellence