In today’s hyperconnected, fast-moving world, we are overloaded with tools, technologies, and techniques. But beneath the noise, many leaders are quietly rediscovering something that never changes: the role of soul in leadership.
During our Business Soul Research programme with over 100 executives, leaders, key professionals, artists and sportspeople, I had a profound and delightful conversation with a very successful senior digital transformation executive whose insights deeply resonated with timeless spiritual wisdom. She was concerned why 70% of digital transformations failed to deliver the desired results and we discussed the importance acknowledging the deeper human needs of people going through transformation.
As we spoke, I was struck by how many of these ideas echo universal teachings that have been passed down through generations.
Here are a few of the powerful insights she shared — alongside reflections from an ancient spiritual text:
🔸 Soul as the essence of our being
“Soul? It’s our very existence. People talk about the reason to be, it is the being, it is who we are.” (IT Exec)
“For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.” (Spiritual text)
🔸 The importance of self-awareness
“The journey of self-awareness is vital… the ‘soul’ is right at the centre and essence of who we are.”
“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”
🔸 Freedom and transformation
“The soul is free. It’s transformational, it is disruptive, the soul seeks quantum leaps.”
“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
🔸 The transcendence of identity labels
“The soul is colourless, genderless, you don’t need a label.”
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one.”
🔸 Letting go of judgement
“Biases and filters are blockers… Virtual working reduces the element of political biases.”
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged… first take the plank out of your own eye.”
🔸 Simplicity and focus
“With COVID… the focus just remains on the need to feed you and sustain oneself.”
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
🔸 The immeasurability of love
“Can you describe or quantify the amount of love you have?”
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
🔸 Embracing our imperfections
“I am the coin with two sides… every human being is that flipped coin.”
“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.”
🔸 Servant leadership
“Servant leadership is critical to our evolution.”
“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.”
🔸 The need for reflection and rest
“Who gave the world Saturday and Sunday? Time for reflection and spiritual contemplation.”
“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
🔸 Shared humanity
“The minute you realise that we’re all the same, things begin to shift.”
“You are all brothers and sisters.”
🔸 Courage through life’s challenges
“All you need is the fortitude and courage to face the ups and downs.”
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!”
🔸 Empowering others to shine
“Give them space, let them nourish… each one is special.”
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”
Why does this matter to leaders today?
Because true leadership is not just about competence, strategy or profit. It’s about recognising the humanity, dignity, and uniqueness of every person you lead. It’s about creating cultures that nurture soul as well as performance.
This is one of the reasons I’ve been passionate about building The Mindful Communicator™ — a new personal and leadership framework and CPD acredited coaching programme rooted in these same universal truths: self-awareness, presence, empathy, purpose, courage, and service.
The challenges we face today – burnout, disconnection, toxic cultures, rapid change – aren’t problems of skill alone. They are problems rooted in deeper human needs. And the solution lies not in more tools, but in rediscovering who we are, and how we lead and collaborate from that place.
🔗 I’d love to hear your thoughts. How do you see “soul” showing up in your leadership journey?
Let’s continue this conversation.
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