A Re-Storied Account of C.S. Lewis, Intergenerational Spiritual Leaders, and Their Transformational Leadership Journey

Certain phenomena such as spirituality and leadership fail to exist in isolation, but rather flourish in tandem and dependent upon the things in which they are a part. This narrative study sought to create meaning through retold stories of the lived experiences of three intergenerational spiritual leaders from distinct generational cohorts (Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Millennials) whose lives were influenced by the literary works and leadership of writer, poet, scholar, Christian apologist, Oxford professor, and translator of Higher Truths, C. S. Lewis (C. S. Lewis Foundation, 2019). The three streams of theory, research, and practice that informed this study include, spiritual leadership through the lens of transformational leadership, the emergence of spiritual leadership development, and intergenerational relationships between leaders and followers. The research sought to answer three overarching questions: (a) How do C. S. Lewis' literary works and teachings influence spiritual leaders in the 21st century who self-identify as Christian and transformational leaders across three generational cohorts? (b) How do intergenerational spiritual leaders describe their transition into transformational leadership? (c) How, if at all, do intergenerational spiritual leaders' stories of their spirituality and transformational leadership journey reflect the legacy of C. S. Lewis? A qualitative narrative method was used; the data collection included one-on-one structured interviews, a reflection journal, and artifact collection. The themes that emerged from this narrative inquiry indicated that the participants of the study were most influenced by C. S. Lewis through their (a) early childhood experiences, (b) young adulthood experiences, and (c) a spiritual transformation. This study informs future research by exploring the experiences of intergenerational spiritual leaders and the influence C. S. Lewis had on their leadership development as they currently lead people and organizations in the 21st century.