Abstract

The leadership of St. John Fisher is examined using a modern five-practice leadership model. By systematically examining original texts as well as influential scholarship on the saint, we find that St. John Fisher exemplifies all five of the practices to varying degrees. Importantly, although St. John is famous for challenging worldly authority, he was an extraordinary exemplar of “Modeling the Way” and “Inspiring a Shared Vision.” In addition, we find evidence of leadership practices in Saint John Fisher that are not part of Kouzes and Posner’s five-practice model. In particular, St. John Fisher’s personal humility, ongoing repentance, active presence, and heroic courage were four notable leadership practices absent from most modern models.