ISF122

• Ignatius did not explicitly discuss leadership in his teachings, but insights can be found in the Constitutions
• A deeper understanding of Ignatius' leadership style is gained through his actions, particularly his letters
• Chapter 2 of Part IX of the Constituents provides a set of characteristics suggested by Ignatius 500 years ago relevant for discussing leadership today
• Fr. Nick Austin's document highlights the importance of a leader who is a mirror and model for others, demonstrating traits such as spiritual depth, friendship with God, inner freedom of heart, leading with humble, just, and strong love, being proactive, taking care of health and appearance, and living the magis
• Ignatius wants an Ignatian leader to be closely united with God and have familiarity with Him in prayer and all operations
• Magnanimity, as defined by Ignatius, is a pursuit of goodness that aligns with Christian values, seen as a generous heart open to God and others
• Ignatius emphasizes academic excellence and prudence, discretion, or discernment as virtues for leading knowledgeable individuals and the Society's contributions to the Church
• Ignatius emphasizes the need to control and suppress excessive attachments and desires, aligning with virtues such as temperance, decorum, and modesty
• According to Ignatius, kindness must be just to avoid degenerating into indulgence or becoming cold and hard
• Ignatius emphasizes practical virtues like solicitude, constancy, and perseverance in leadership, urging leaders to initiate and persist in significant endeavors
• Ignatius values equanimity of soul, advising leaders to remain unaffected by success and adversity, stemming from spiritual indifference towards concepts of "success" and "failure"
• Ignatius united talented individuals and entrusted important missions to expand the Society and prioritize educational institutions
• Ignatius showed concern for vulnerable individuals through carefully written Constitutions about dismissing people from society
• Ignatius shared his spiritual experiences through Spiritual Exercises and Constitutions, distilling his wisdom for readers
• Experts are shifting focus from charismatic leaders to quieter ones with humility, self-control, and realism for authentic and ethical leadership based on character and personal growth
• Personality traits are fixed, while character attributes can be developed through experiences, especially challenges, and can predict behavior
• Developing leadership from within and fostering integrity and authenticity involve vulnerability and a commitment to embrace a more intricate ethical code and adaptable human values
• Practices and exercises to develop character and authenticity include reflection, learning from pivotal moments, reducing the gap between professional and personal selves, seeking feedback, collaborating with mentors, finding role models, cultivating virtuous habits, taking responsibility for mistakes, nurturing spiritual life, evaluating values, and ensuring alignment with actions
• Evil seeks to destroy humans by isolating them and separating them from real life, often disguised as good, leading to destruction of relationships and individuals
• The dynamics of evil can lead to a downward spiral of self-underestimation and inferiority, contrasting with the dynamics of good exemplified by the teachings of Jesus
• The forces of good, exemplified by Jesus' teachings, work in the opposite direction of evil, aiming to create a path of living the Gospel to reach God
• POVERTY:

  • Jesus' teachings emphasize the importance of understanding that humans are inherently flawed and reliant on one another
  • Acknowledge limitations, lack of knowledge, and insufficient abilities in our imperfect world
  • Emphasize the necessity of assistance and collaboration from others
• HUMILIATION:

  • Ignatius highlights the importance of humility in imitating Christ
  • Encourages others to emulate Jesus' humility, even in difficult times, to deepen their connection with God and foster genuine humanity
• HUMILITY:

  • Acknowledges our limitations, accepting help and assistance from others
  • Fosters trust, gratitude, and growth
  • Strengthens relationships, promotes growth, and promotes understanding of the dynamics of pride and humility
• Ignatian Spirituality:

  • Principle of "seeking and finding God in all things" encourages individuals and communities to recognize and be attentive to the presence of God already at work in their lives
• Jeronimo Nadal:

  • Entrusted by Saint Ignatius of Loyola to disseminate the Ignatius vision of leadership to Jesuit worldwide
  • Expressed vision through catchphrase "nuestro modo de proceder" or "our way of proceeding"
  • Outlined three fundamental principles: "In the Spirit", "From the heart", "Practically"
• Chris Lowney's Heroic Leadership:

  • Everyone is a leader, leading all the time in various ways
  • A leader's greatest power is personal vision, communicated through daily life
  • Leadership is not a job to be left at work, but an inner compass for daily actions
  • Becoming a leader is an ongoing process of self-development
• Working with Others:

  • Groups can be formal or informal, with individual goals and accountability
  • Teams coordinate efforts towards shared purpose or collective goals
  • Strong and synergistic groups achieve results beyond individual abilities
  • Group and team leaders balance various elements to create fulfilling group experiences
• Relationships:

  • Ignatius offers the Spiritual exercises for personal freedom and inner peace
  • Accompaniment Model offers effective communication in various interactions
  • The Emmaus Story emphasizes walking alongside, listening attentively, eliciting choices, acknowledging and sharing the human condition, and engaging in a mission or purpose