A buddhist approach for strengthening leadership: implications for the west

This research aims to clarify the definition of leadership, levels of leadership, characteristics of each level of leadership, and the teachings of Buddhism that can be used to strengthen leadership. We also present a conceptual framework for using Buddhism to develop leadership. A mixed methods approach, using both sequential and parallel designs, was used. We found that leadership refers to the relationship between leader and follower in a relational process that transitions to a new world or a better future, whether one is a leader by position or by nature. Leadership is divided into three levels: (1) self-leadership, (2) team leadership, and (3) organizational leadership. The characteristics of leadership that reflect the "talent" of leadership is "the ability of leaders to think, to have, and to do.”The teachings of Buddhism should be used to strengthen and develop the concept of leadership as perceived by Western scholars. Eastern and Western views of leadership are not in conflict; neither is “better” than the other; and they each have their own strengths. The researchers conclude by presenting a conceptual model for developing leadership called the H-E-B-M-H-F Model.