LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION IN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL: THE CATHOLIC CASE

Leadership takes place when a member of a group modifies the motivation or abilities of others or when their attention is directed towards goals or to the path required to accomplish goals (Bass, 2008). Therefore, it would not make sense to limit the scope of leadership to business or politics, where the concept is most commonly referred to. Leadership is a practice that can positively impact many areas, including religion (Campbell, 2021; Díez Bosch, Micó and Sabaté Gauxachs, 2020; Hoover, 2016; Soukup, 2017). Additionally, during this present time of uncertainty and complexity, leadership is necessary for any type of organization. How is leadership approached by religious institutions? What is the role of the digital world in leadership formation? The objective of this study is to map the formation of religious leadership in Spain and Portugal in order to find initiatives and identify current necessities. The selected methodology follows a three-stage process. First, it includes a mapping of online initiatives regarding leadership in Catholic communities. Second, it includes a quantitative survey. Third, is a qualitative focus on groups and in-depth interviews (Busquet and Medina, 2019). Through the findings of the study, the situation of leadership formation in religious institutions in both countries and the role communication plays in the matter are defined.