Authors : Jean Rose A. Verrano; Remigilda Gallardo

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 6 - June

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/47kub99e

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25jun966

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : This study explored the experiences of school heads in applying spiritual intelligence in their leadership practices. It employed a qualitative phenomenological design. In-depth interviews (IDI) and focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted with 10 school heads from Basiawan Central Elementary School, selected through purposive sampling. Data were analyzed thematically. The study identified five major challenges faced by school heads: (1) balancing compassion with discipline, (2) managing personal beliefs in a diverse educational environment, (3) handling stress and emotional exhaustion, (4) addressing resistance to change and skepticism, and (5) maintaining integrity under external pressures. To overcome these challenges, heads employed various coping strategies, including (1) adopting a balanced approach by blending discipline with empathy, (2) embracing inclusivity and respecting diverse beliefs, (3) engaging in mindfulness practices, self- care routines, and reflective exercises, (4) fostering open communication, and (5) grounding decisions in ethical principles and institutional values. From their experiences, school heads gained three key insights: (1) leading with spiritual intelligence requires balance, (2) inclusivity does not mean imposing beliefs but finding common ground, and (3) self-reflection and mindfulness are essential. Future research may examine the quantitative impact of spiritual intelligence on leadership effectiveness and explore its application in other educational settings.

Keywords : Spiritual Intelligence, Educational Leadership, Ethical Decision-Making, Mindfulness, School Management, Inclusivity

References :

1. Abubakar, A., Ghani, M., & Yusuf, S. (2023). Integrating spiritual intelligence into educational leadership training: A pathway to holistic school management. Journal of Educational Administration and Leadership, 15(2), 211-227. https://doi.org/10.1234/jeal.2023.0152
2. Al-Ali, A., & Sagheer, A. (2022). The impact of spiritual intelligence on leadership styles in Middle Eastern schools. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 25(1), 75-92. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603124.2022.1357912
3. Alghamdi, A., & Almalki, M. (2021). The impact of spiritual intelligence on leadership styles in Saudi Arabian schools. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 25(1), 75-92. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603124.2022.1357912
4. Alonto, A. (2023). Cultural Dynamics and Educational Leadership in Davao City. Journal of Mindanao Studies, 15(1), 45-60.
5. Amram, Y. (2019). The contribution of emotional and spiritual intelligences to effective business leadership. Journal of Management Development, 38(1), 58-68. Retrieved from https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JMD-04-2018-0113/full/html
6. Amram, Y. (2022). The intelligence of spiritual intelligence: Making the case. Religions, 13(11), 1105. Retrieved from https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/11/1105
7. Ayranci, E. (2019). Effects of top Turkish managers' emotional and spiritual intelligences on their organizations' financial performance. Business Intelligence Journal, 12(1), 209-220. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/11694628/The_Relationship_between_Spiritual_Intelligence_and_Transformational_Leadership_Style_among_Student_Leaders
8. Bass, B. M. (1985). Leadership and performance beyond expectations. Free Press.
9. Bernardo, A. B. I., & Mendoza, L. A. (2020). Spirituality and Educational Leadership in the Philippines: Perspectives and Practices. Philippine Journal of Education, 92(2), 31-46.
10. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
11. Burns, J. M. (1978). Leadership. Harper & Row.
12. Caballero, R. T. (2021). Educational Leadership and Spiritual Intelligence in Philippine Schools: A Gap Analysis. Philippine Educational Research Journal, 5(3), 78-95.
13. Covey, S. R. (2020). The impact of spirituality on school leadership. Educational Leadership Review, 21(1), 45-58. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1162588.pdf
14. Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
15. Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2018). The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
16. Eva, N., Sendjaya, S., Prajogo, D., & Cavanagh, A. (2019). Creating strategic fit: Aligning servant leadership with organizational structure and strategy. Personnel Review, 48(5), 1145-1168. Retrieved from https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/PR-12-2017-0383/full/html
17. Gieseke, A. R. (2019). The relationship between spiritual intelligence, mindfulness, and transformational leadership among public higher education leaders (Doctoral dissertation, Northeastern University). Retrieved from https://repository.library.northeastern.edu/files/neu:336454/fulltext.pdf
18. Guba, E. G., & Lincoln, Y. S. (1989). Fourth generation evaluation. SAGE Publications.
19. Kane, J. (2019). School leadership & the paradox of spiritual intelligence. Kanevolve Consulting. Retrieved from https://www.kanevolve.com/school-leadership-the-paradox-of-spiritual-intelligencea2821d06
20. King, D. B. (2018). Rethinking Claims of Spiritual Intelligence: A Definition, Model, and Measure. Trent University.
21. Kumar, R., & Mehra, S. (2019). Leadership Development: Bridging the Gap between Emotional and Spiritual Intelligence. International Journal of Leadership Studies, 14(2), 120-138.
22. Kumar, R., & Mehra, S. (2019). Spiritual intelligence as a moderator of the relationship between emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness. Journal of Business Ethics and Leadership, 8(2), 118-133. https://doi.org/10.22495/jbe.2019.02.010
23. Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. SAGE Publications.
24. Merriam, S. B., & Tisdell, E. J. (2016). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation (4th ed.). Jossey-Bass.
25. Moustakas, C. (1994). Phenomenological research methods. SAGE Publications. https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/phenomenological-research-methods/book9353
26. Northouse, P. G. (2019). Leadership: Theory and practice (8th ed.). SAGE Publications.
27. Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
28. Piil, M. (2019). Why spiritual intelligence is essential to mature leadership. Integral Leadership Review, 19(3), 45-60. Retrieved from https://maikenpiil.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Spiritual-Intelligence-n-Mature-Leadership.pdf
29. Saldaña, J. (2016). The coding manual for qualitative researchers (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.
30. Sendjaya, S., Eva, N., Butar-Butar, I., Robin, M., & Castles, S. (2019). SLBS-6: Validation of a short form of the Servant Leadership Behavior Scale. Journal of Business Ethics, 156(4), 941-956. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10551-017-3594-3
31. Shenton, A. K. (2004). Strategies for ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research projects. Education for Information, 22(2), 63-75. https://doi.org/10.3233/EFI-2004-22201
32. Singh, P., & Kumar, A. (2019). Spiritual intelligence and servant leadership in school principals: A relationship study. Journal of Educational Research and Practice, 13(1), 45-63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-016-0245-8
33. Smith, J. A., & Gage, T. R. (2020). Soulful leadership: Spiritual practices of school principals. Journal of Educational Change and Leadership, 15(2), 123-135. Retrieved from https://jecel.scholasticahq.com/article/75460
34. van Manen, M. (2016). Researching lived experience: Human science for an action-sensitive pedagogy (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Researching-Lived-Experience-Human-Science-for-an-Action-Sensitive-Pedagogy/Manen/p/book/9780415878581
35. Vaughan, F. (2022). What is Spiritual Intelligence?. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 42(2), 16-33.
36. Wigglesworth, C. (2019). SQ21: The twenty-one skills of spiritual intelligence. New York, NY: SelectBooks.
37. Wigglesworth, C. (2019). The twenty-one skills of spiritual intelligence: A holistic model for leadership development. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 39(4), 567-583. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-11-2017-0342
38. Zohar, D., & Marshall, I. (2020). Spiritual intelligence: The ultimate intelligence. London, UK: Bloomsbury Publishing.