Spiritual Leadership is two dimensional

When I type the word ‘Leadership’ in Google, there are well over 3 million hits. One of the top ranking companies in this hit list is McKinsey. They define leadership as “Leadership is a set of behaviors used to help people align their collective direction, to execute strategic plans, and to continually renew an organization”. It’s a great definition, but … when I go through the Google list, many explain leadership using keywords such as behavior, strategy, direction and influence, some even mention innovation and creativity as trademarks for leadership. Most of the time leadership is viewed from an academic standpoint. Many management models, principles and system are based on this academic approach. However, I believe that leadership holds not one dimension, 'the academic', but two dimensions namely the academic and the spiritual. This new insight provides a more inclusive view on leadership, which I will address as Spiritual Leadership. This spiritual dimension is not known to many leaders.

However, I believe that leadership holds not one dimension, 'the academic', but two dimensions namely the academic and the spiritual.

To explain ‘spiritual’ in leadership, I’m referring to the 'tripartite man' or 'tripartite woman'. The word tripartite (three parts) refers to a human being consisting of a body (flesh, bones, blood), soul (mind, emotions, will) and a spirit. Again, for many the word ‘spirit’ is a completely new perspective. Especially looking at leadership from a two-dimensional perspective. The reason why is simple because we are not used to see natural leaders also as a spirit-beings. The latter, might even sounds a bit strange.

The spirit of a man is eternal and never dies. We learn this from the oldest, most reliable and read book in the world, the Bible. The Bible says “The spirit of man is the lamp of God” (Proverbs 20:27) and during the creation of the man (Adam) God breathed into the man and he became a living being and spirit (Genesis 2:7). Out of Adam God created Eve and she also became a human-spirit.

So why is Spiritual leadership important and what are some of the benefits of Spiritual Leadership? I want to mention 4 aspects.

Being a spiritual leader, his or her spirit is able to communicate and contact God, the creator of all and who is a Spirit himself.

1. Being a spiritual leader helps not only to perceive natural aspects and details of our live and work around us, but also to ‘look’ and ‘receive’ information hidden from the natural realm we call the day-to-day operations. Because of that supernatural insight I believe making decisions, plotting roadmaps or correctly acting out situations, makes the spiritual leader a highly effective forerunner who create more impact and lasting results.

2. The spiritual leader is a strong intuitive leader and is able to see beyond the rational about the 'details' and 'facts'. I believe because of spiritual insight that healthy, effective and crucial decision making is much more long term based and not short term driven. That’s why the spiritual leader is more effective in creating and developing missions, visions and establishing more continuity and strong, stable reputations. These results will stand out in his or her personal and business environment.

3. Being a spiritual leader, his or her spirit is able to communicate and contact God, the creator of all and who is a Spirit himself. It’s like a radio. When a radio is turned on and properly tuned, it can receive the invisible radio waves in the air and interpret them and confer messages. The way a radio functions illustrates a human spirit’s unique ability to contact and receive God’s instructions and vital information.

4. Being connected to God, he or she will be protected in his personal life, work and society. Because of that I believe the spiritual leader is much better equipped to fulfill his or her purpose on the earth using the God given talents, skills and destiny. He or she will operate on a higher holistic level of leadership which gives more fulfillment and satisfaction of live.