Leading at a Different Level

Leading at a Different Level

What’s the difference between everyday leadership and spiritual leadership?

Let’s start with a definition.

According to ChatGPT, leadership is the ability to influence, guide, or inspire others toward a common goal.

I think that is a pretty good definition of everyday leadership. Don’t you?

But spiritual leadership is all that.

And more.

My own working definition of spiritual leadership is: Spiritual leadership ultimately is a sacred stewardship whereby a person guides, influences, serves, and inspires others to fulfill God’s purposes based on the intimate work of God in their own life.

Spiritual leadership ultimately is a sacred stewardship whereby a person guides, influences, serves, and inspires others to fulfill God’s purposes based on the intimate work of God in their own life.

Let’s parse out that definition a bit…

• Spiritual leadership is a sacred stewardship. It is something that God hands off, entrusts to you. And true to form like any other stewardship, there is a built-in anticipation that leaders will manage well that which has been committed to them. This is the big idea of the parable of the talents found in New Testament where ROI is a fundamental, non-negotiable expectation.

• Spiritual leadership is about guidance, influence, and inspiration. But it is also about service. In a culture that far too often places leaders on a pedestal, a spiritual leader rejects the trappings and entitlements of leadership (think position, platform, perks, privileges). They show up poised to answer the question: how do I bless and benefit those entrusted to my care?

• Spiritual leadership is about leading people in the direction of God’s purposes. Herein lies a significant difference between an everyday leader and a spiritual leader. The former works their agenda, the latter God’s. A spiritual leader is constantly in discovery mode, seeking to comprehend the unfolding chapters of God’s plans for His people. He knows that his job is not to develop the plans, but to discern them.

A spiritual leader is constantly in discovery mode, seeking to comprehend the unfolding chapters of God’s plans for His people.

• Spiritual leadership is about leading out from the intimate work of God in your life. When it is all said and done, a spiritual leader needs no convincing that leadership is ultimately leading with your life. It’s inside out—God works deeply in you so that He might work powerfully through you. In His leadership economy, everything you do is an extension of His presence and power in your life. He intends to maximize your most important leadership asset: YOU.

In His leadership economy, everything you do is an extension of His presence and power in your life.

What would be your single-sentence statement of what it means to be a spiritual leader?

If you don’t have one, you’re welcome to borrow mine—but only until you’ve crafted your own. Every spiritual leader needs their own definition, handwritten in their own words, emphasizing their own journey, their personal experience, and their settled understanding. Because like the windshield wipers on your Toyota Tundra, your statement will provide you with essential clarity when the storms of leadership blow into town.

Chuck Olson
Founder | Lead With Your Life