Faith-based motivation and leader development: International service experiences as catalyst for moral development and cultural intelligence

Global leaders must be able to embrace complexity with creativity and integrity to meet the adaptive challenges of work and relationships in the contemporary world. Successful response to challenges involves a transformational process. This research addresses the scarcity of quantitative longitudinal research on conditions that may initiate or enhance developmental movement by examining the impact of international service experiences on adult development in the domains of moral reasoning (MR) and cultural intelligence (CQ). Data on MR level were collected using the Defining Issues Tests prior to and following short-term international voluntary service projects. CQ data were collected using the CQ Questionnaire. Research findings are reported and implications for future research, as well as implications for refining design and assessment of international service experiences as venues for developing leadership competencies are discussed.