Workplace Stress

Stress Bolman, Lee G., and Deal, Terrence 3. 2002. "Leading with soul and spirit: Effective leadership in challenging times boils down to qualities such as focus, passion and integrity." School Administrator, Feb. Bolman and Deal argue that people who expect to be effective school leaders must look at all aspects of themselves, including their more spiritual side, and incorporate their spirituality (not meaning religion) into their work life if they are to be truly effective educational leaders over time.

They noted that in their work they had met educators who somehow had managed to stay energized and excited about what they were doing while others openly admitted counting the days until retirement. Their belief is that one significant difference between the two groups is that the successful ones nourish their spirit. They listed other traits educational leaders must have: focus, passion, wisdom, courage and integrity, and argued that one's spiritual center is an important part of all five traits.

While the authors clearly write with focus, passion, wisdom, courage and integrity, they did not clearly demonstrate how one must have "faith" in order to develop those traits. At one point they reduced the people who were excited about what they were doing in education compared to those who were not to "optimists" and "pessimists." However, no information was given about why those who were counting the days were doing so. They might have been looking back on a satisfying career but forward to a satisfying retirement.

Looking forward to retirement does not necessarily mean a person is either a pessimist or "without faith," and optimism without the power to make changes, as described, for instance, by Nelson, et. al. (2001) and Wiley (2000), wouldn't be terribly realistic. In their article, the writers reported of a school principal who, while reporting to the school board,.