I think we can all agree that the general definition of leadership has something to do with influencing other people. However, leadership is a broad term. Saddam Hussein, Adolf Hitler, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Martin Luther King Jr. are all considered leaders, yet they’re very different from each other.
Great leaders don’t just aim to be a common, everyday leader. They follow the practice of spiritual leadership. My spiritual leadership has developed into trusting God’s will and interpreting the messages He’s sending me.
What is a common leader?
When I first started as a leader, I thought I knew everything, and I felt I had something to prove in the male-dominated industries I grew up in. I was constantly defensive and fearful that something would come along and derail my career or position as a leader.
I had my own agenda in life, and when others interacted with me at work, they could sense I had a separate agenda.
When you’re leading a team, you can treat the members of the team in one of three ways: as a laborer, competitor, or partner. Before I practiced spiritual leadership, I leaned toward treating my team as laborers or competitors. I expected to be followed because of my title as a “leader” and saw my leadership role as the defining feature of my identity and self-worth.
My leadership style had a hold of my life. Looking back, it’s scary to realize I was considered a good leader at the time. I wasn’t a bad person or a bad leader, but I was a common leader with my own agenda.
What is a spiritual leader?
Spiritual leadership helps followers know they’re contributing to a valuable and worthwhile cause. It shows them that their goals and their organization’s goals are grounded in values they can be proud of.
As I began to prioritize God in my life, I saw myself transform. I started to seek God’s will and waited for him to guide me.
I now try to help people see old things in new ways and genuinely want others to discover who they can be. I’m mentoring and developing the next generation of leaders on things I’m a part of outside of the organization’s scope. It’s also critical that I ask questions out of genuine curiosity and love as opposed to an agenda.
Now, when God reveals His agenda, I do my best to adjust mine as well. When people join my team, I treat them as partners, not competitors or laborers. I know my actions and behaviors as a leader are the messages I convey.
You can apply spiritual leadership in any work setting along with personal and community settings.
If you still have questions about applying spiritual leadership to your work setting, let’s set up a consultation to discuss your spiritual leadership goals.
