Leadership is a Spiritual Exercise

Leadership is a Spiritual Exercise January 15, 2013

Some people see leadership as an intellectual exercise.

They conclude that if they can gather the information they need and analyze it effectively, they can learn to be leaders. Leadership is about sorting out what to do. The challenge of leadership is being able to think everything through as quickly as necessary.

Some people see leadership as an emotional exercise.

They feel that if they can empathize and motivate people effectively, they can be the leaders people want. Leadership is about sorting out how to get people to work together well. The challenge of leadership is being able to get people excited about our goals.

Some people see leadership as an instinctive exercise.

They know that if they can grasp a situation and trust their own reaction to it, they can be effective leaders. Leadership is about sorting out the immediate need and not worrying about unlikely possibilities. The challenge of leadership is being able to keep things moving.

I believe that all of these are part of the truth, though none of them is complete.

People can know a great deal about leadership without becoming the leaders they can become. They can feel like effective leaders without realizing their own potential. They can respond to immediate situations without engaging their own soul.

Leadership is more than that.

Leadership is a spiritual exercise.

Leadership is about depth. People grow into and recognize the leaders they have the potential to become. The challenge of leadership is knowing who we truly are.

True leaders grow deeper, and inspire others to grow deeper, as they lead. Their leadership is a spiritual practice that opens us to the deepest and sacred all around us.

How does your leadership engage the deepest part of you?
Does your true self connect with the true selves around you?

[Image by wtl photography]


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