Part 3: "How Spiritual Health Enhances Relationships and Leadership"
The Essential Guide to Spiritual Health: Transforming Life and Leadership
Leadership isn’t just about getting things done—it’s about connection. Whether it’s guiding a team, supporting a friend, or showing up for your family, the way you build relationships determines the impact of your leadership. But connection isn’t always easy, especially when you’re navigating uncertainty or isolation. That’s where spiritual health becomes a powerful guide.
Spiritual health helps us lead with empathy and authenticity. It reminds us to pause, listen, and create spaces where others feel valued. And sometimes, those lessons show up in the most unexpected places.
A Gym, a Basement, and a Lesson in Connection
One of my first managing jobs was running a fitness center in the basement of a large national software engineering corporation. It sounds like a big opportunity—and it was—but those early days were rough. My “team” consisted of virtual fitness managers I barely knew, and I didn’t have a boss breathing down my neck. That might sound like freedom, but what I really felt was isolation.
It didn’t help that my boss had a habit of calling right around lunch or the end of my shift, using those moments to micromanage in the most passive-aggressive way. Then there were the awkward moments, like having to tell one gentleman that hygiene was non-negotiable or gently reminding others to put on more clothes. For a while, I wondered if I was cut out for leadership at all.
But things changed when I started to focus on connection. At first, the software engineers who trickled into the gym weren’t exactly chatty. Let’s just say they preferred headphones to small talk. Then, a group of geologists moved into the building, bringing an entirely different energy. They were outgoing, curious, and eager to collaborate. Suddenly, I was running outdoor classes, organizing triathlon teams, and building relationships I never expected. One of my closest friends to this day came from that group.
Spiritual Health and Leadership
That job taught me that leadership isn’t about control—it’s about creating spaces where people feel connected and valued. The gym wasn’t just a place to exercise; it became a refuge for those looking for a break from the grind. I learned to lead with intention, listen deeply, and let relationships grow naturally.
These lessons stayed with me, preparing me for roles in real estate and later, the church world. In each setting, the core principle was the same: leadership rooted in connection and care transforms not only relationships but entire environments.
How to Lead with Spiritual Health
Here are three ways you can bring spiritual health into your leadership:
Listen to Understand: Make others feel seen by focusing entirely on their words and emotions.
Create Safe Spaces: Foster an environment where people feel comfortable to connect, whether it’s a team meeting or a one-on-one conversation.
Act with Empathy: Approach challenges with compassion and clarity, allowing others to feel supported rather than judged.
Finding Connection in Leadership
Reflecting on those days in the fitness center, I realize how much they shaped my approach to leadership. Spiritual health guided me to create connection in unexpected ways and to lead with authenticity. Whether it’s helping someone find solace in a gym, a home, an office, or a church, leadership grounded in care and intention creates spaces where people feel valued and connected—and that’s where true transformation begins.
We geologists certainly were a chatty bunch!! ❤️