Abstract
M.Phil.
The hypothesis of the research essay was that people experience a lack
of meaning or purpose in their lives. The general aim of this research
essay was to define why self-transcendence is an important component in
a balanced person's life and how it can contribute to adding meaning to a
person's life. The contribution of Personal and Professional Leadership to
the development and/or improvement of self-transcendence, was also
investigated.
The research methodology used in the research essay includes
hermeneutic and descriptive strategies. The research methods that were
used include a word and concept analysis, in order to clarify concepts
central to the title of the research essay. A literature study was also
conducted, to clarify self-transcendence from the perspective of various
philosophers and their theories, within an existential and Personal and
Professional Leadership paradigm.
The following were important findings of the research essay:
• Self-transcendence refers to the desire within a person to give more of
himself to others. This will not only have an influence on the legacy
that he leaves behind, but also on his own perceptions, self-awareness
and potential platform.
• The key elements of self-transcendence are: the ability to make a free
choice with one's own free will, self-awareness, true north values, selfactualisation;
and to have service-orientated relationships with others.
• Self-transcendence plays a very important role in a person's life, by
influencing a person's quality of life, legacy and ultimately the meaning
of his life.
• Personal and Professional Leadership plays a very important role in
improving and developing self-transcendence, by creating an
awareness of the continuous growth process towards enhancing selftranscendence.
This could assist a person in becoming more proactive,
by wanting to become more self-transcendent.
• Servant Leadership can play an important role in self-transcendence.
• Self-transcendence can enable a person to gain greater control over
his life, which in turn will create a sense of meaning.
• Self-transcendence can give a person a sense of belonging and
purpose in his life, and also give a feeling that after his death, a part of
him will continue to live on.
• The research essay concludes by indicating that self-transcendence
can, therefore, play a very important role in giving meaning to a
person's life.