In today’s fast-paced, high-pressure world, leadership is often defined by strategies, data, and decision-making frameworks. But, after two decades of coaching, training, and working with leaders across the globe, I’ve come to realise that there is a deeper, often overlooked component of leadership, especially in the business world, and that is: spirituality.
What Do I Mean by Spirituality?
For me, spirituality involves tapping into your true self and core purpose—gaining inner clarity that guides your decisions, actions, and responses, especially when the stakes are high. And that matters because life throws a lot of challenges our way as leaders, and as I say in my book, Leading from Your Core, “when life squeezes you and the pressure is on, what you’re like on the inside will come out.”
In moments of crisis, when the pressure is intense, it’s this deeper alignment that allows leaders to act with calm, focus, and strength. Spirituality is the force that gives you that inner strength as it connects you with the best version of you.
“Spirituality is the force that gives you that inner strength as it connects you with the best version of you.”
Why Does Spirituality Matter Now?
Leadership is no longer just about managing tasks, achieving targets, or driving results and efficiencies. The world we live in continues to be increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. It’s in this kind of environment that leaders need more than just technical skills, frameworks, or strategies—they need inner strength and deep insight. When you’re grounded spiritually, you’re better equipped to handle uncertainty and inspire confidence in others, even when the path ahead isn’t clear.
Harvard Business School’s William George has noted that ‘mindful leadership‘ is becoming essential for today’s leaders. By developing self-awareness and emotional intelligence, leaders are better positioned to respond to challenges with resilience and calm. This parallels my belief that spirituality, often understood through mindfulness or core purpose or inner self or spirit essence, is the foundation that sustains effective leadership over time.
“Spirituality is the foundation that sustains effective leadership over time.”
Spirituality and Leadership Mastery
I know what you’re thinking—”of course, with a name like Obi, it’s only natural that you’d lean into spirituality!” But, beyond the name, my deep passion for personal leadership and relentless pursuit of mastery earn me the title of ‘Jedi of Personal Leadership’. And in that spirit, I liken spirituality to the Force. The Force, for a Jedi, is something bigger than us that we connect with deep inside of ourselves. It enables us to tap into the transcendent dimension of life. It is the source of clarity and strength. It helps you lead with calm in moments of chaos and with purpose in moments of doubt. This Force—this spirituality—provides a deeper, unshakable alignment that keeps you steady, no matter the challenges around you.
“Spirituality provides a deeper, unshakable alignment that keeps you steady, no matter the challenges around you.”
And when you’re able to lead from that place of inner alignment, you become not only a more effective leader but a more fulfilled one.
(If you’re curious about your own spiritual alignment as a leader, consider taking our new CORE Leaders Self-Assessment. More information at the end of this article.)
Real-Life Leadership in Action
For many leaders, spiritual alignment has been a key to long-term success. Take Bill George, former CEO of Medtronic, for example. He has spoken extensively about how his spiritual practices, particularly meditation, helped him lead with clarity and focus. His spiritual grounding gave him the energy to make thoughtful decisions during his time at Medtronic, allowing him to cultivate a high-performance, values-driven organisation.
Another great example is Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. His leadership approach is rooted in empathy and compassion, which he credits to his deeply held spiritual beliefs. Nadella’s spiritual alignment helped transform Microsoft’s culture by focusing on emotional intelligence and inclusivity—values that have fostered innovation and long-term growth at one of the world’s largest companies.
Then there’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the former president of Liberia and Africa’s first democratically elected female head of state. Her leadership during Liberia’s recovery from civil war and through the Ebola outbreak was guided by her spiritual beliefs. She credits her spiritual grounding for helping her maintain clarity and strength during times of national crisis, which allowed her to lead with compassion and resilience.
Finally, David Steward, CEO of Worldwide Technology, has built one of the largest Black-owned businesses in the US by relying on his faith and spiritual principles. Steward’s spiritual grounding has influenced his leadership style, allowing him to foster resilience, create a positive company culture, and use his platform to serve others. His faith continues to be a cornerstone of his leadership success.
Practical Ways to Tap into Your Leadership ‘Force’
It’s not just about big moments of inspiration; spiritual alignment can and should be integrated into your daily leadership practice. Here are some simple, practical ways to apply spirituality in your leadership:
- Daily Reflection: Start your day with a five-minute reflection on your core purpose. Ask yourself how your actions for the day will align with your long-term goals and values. Even if you only have five minutes, this practice sets the tone for purpose-driven leadership and seamlessly integrates into any routine, no matter how busy you are.
- Pause for Clarity: Before making major decisions, pause, lean into silence, and reconnect with your deeper self. Imagine the best version of you stepping forward to ask: “What impact will this decision have on my team, my values, and my long-term goals?” This mindful pause creates space for more thoughtful and aligned choices.
- Embrace Uncertainty: Leaders grounded in spirituality don’t need to have all the answers. Embrace ambiguity with confidence, trusting that there is an intelligence that can guide you through even the most complex situations.
Take the Next Step: Discover Your Spiritual Alignment
If you want to go deeper; if you’re curious about how aligned your leadership is with your core purpose; If you want to lead from a place connected to the best version of you, take our CORE Leaders Self-Assessment – https://corealignmentassessment.coreleaders.co.uk/obi-twe9fyvl.
No matter where you are on your leadership journey, the CORE Leaders Self-Assessment will help you evaluate your inner alignment, including your spiritual core, and you’ll begin to discover how this positively impacts not just your decision-making, but also your business outcomes, team engagement, long-term growth, and personal resilience.
Here’s to unleashing your leadership excellence from the inside out.
May ‘the Force’ be with you!
Obi Abuchi
The Jedi of Personal Leadership