10 Ways to Use Your Faith to Become a Better Leader

Hey Friend!

As a business owner, have you ever considered the magnitude of leadership? Whether you are a team of one or you lead a team of 200, you are a leader. You’re a leader in your home, and you’re a leader to your children. You’re even a leader to yourself. And your faith has an impact on your leadership, or at least it should.

If you’ve ever stopped and thought about the impact you have on other people’s lives, it can get overwhelming. You may search the internet for “101 Ways I Can Be a Better Leader,” read blogs, or go to leadership seminars to learn more.

The reality is that the Bible has every single thing we need to lead us in the way we should go. As you begin to grow your business, you can confidently turn to the Bible for advice. This blog will look specifically at 10 ways to use your faith to become a better leader.

Become a Better Leader by Leading with Integrity

Proverbs 11:3 – “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.”

We want to uphold morality, and we want to create some ethical principles that we live by, especially in our leadership. How do we exemplify this one? Take inventory of your life. Ask yourself:

• How have I been living with integrity?
• Am I showing up with the highest ethical principles and moral values that I possibly can?

These questions apply to every area of your life (relationships, health, faith, etc.), not just your business. And it’s okay if you find that the answer is “no.” Today is always a great day to make the right decision or to make a different decision.

One of the things we do as a company is list out our core values and review them every year. I’d encourage you to list out your personal core values. These will serve as a guide to keep you and your business heading in the right direction.

Become a Better Leader by Exhibiting Servant Leadership

Mark 10:45 – “For even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

If Jesus Christ Himself did not come to be served but to serve, how can we embrace this concept of servant leadership, really focusing on support, giving, helping, and shepherding?

For me, I give it all away. That’s always been a principle I stand behind. Every single thing I do in my business is on my podcast somewhere.

I believe if you listened to all 700 episodes, you could grow a 7-figure business. But because I give it all away, the hope is you trust me a little bit more and are excited about investing and getting there faster. Through my course and coaching program, you have a customized roadmap, an implementation plan, and support from me and my team.

Servant leadership is what has created and cultivated a successful, highly revenue-producing business. Because I give it all away, people trust me. Because I help and support my team, I have a very loyal team. They have the resources that they need, and I encourage them. I’m not perfect at this, but I believe a heart and posture of servant leadership will bear much fruit in the long run.

Become a Better Leader by Praying and Reflecting

Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not be anxious about anything. But in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

This is one of my favorite verses. It’s so comforting and such a good reminder. As a leader, you must make time to pray, reflect, and seek wisdom. Look to wise counsel.

As a leader, you are not the Holy Grail. We need to be humble in heart by knowing that we don’t have the answer to every problem. Only God does. Show up in leadership by earnestly praying and reflecting, seeking Him in faith, and then utilizing the revelations that come through to you to better serve your people. Don’t be afraid to pray and reflect just because you’re a CEO. We never get too big for God.

Become a Better Leader by Leading by Example

1 Timothy 4:12 – “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you’re young. But set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

If you see this verse and think, “I’m NOT young,” you are young – either in your business, your faith, or maybe your age, you’re young. It means you are qualified regardless of age, experience, or whatever you think makes you irrelevant or not enough.

When we lead by example, we have to model all of these behaviors. We have to live out the values that we expect from our students and the values we expect from our team.

Always take the high road. Anyone, anywhere, every single day.

Become a Better Leader by Being Inclusive

Galatians 3:28 – “There’s neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male or female, for you are all one in Jesus Christ.”

Work hard on including everybody, making everyone feel seen, heard, respected, and valued. Love everybody, love them all the same.

We’ve had some people apply for Podcast to Profit, and maybe they’re not Christian, they have a questionable brand, or their content touches on New Age. I take a posture that every single person is welcome, and we’re going to love you, encourage you, and give you guidance that is aligned with our faith.

We’re very transparent and let them know our brand and morals are Bible-based, and interestingly enough, they’ll often still join and a lot of change happens. A lot of heart change happens in my program. Being inclusive is a game-changer, and it displays and shows the love of Christ in powerful ways.

Become a Better Leader by Being Empathic and Compassionate

Colossians 3:12 – “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience.”

If I find myself judging or comparing, I’ll tell myself, “Be compassionate.” I’ll whisper it to my spirit over and over again. Because I’m not better than anyone, and everything I’m picking apart with someone else is something that triggered me because it used to be me (check out my story here).

This works in your business too. And you have to find the right balance. For example, I expect excellence in my company, and I don’t mince words. At the same time, I’m still empathetic and compassionate, but not to a fault where I’m letting things slide or acting like we don’t have boundaries here in the company.

As you are growing your team, ask yourself – how do I practice empathy and compassion and focus on kindness, gentleness, and patience while still upholding the boundaries and the expectations of the company?

Become a Better Leader by Handling Conflict Resolution with Grace

Ephesians 4:32 – “Be kind and compassionate to one another. Forgive each other just as Christ God forgave you.”

Approach conflicts with a vision for “How do I reconcile this? How do I resolve this? How do I display grace and forgiveness in this?” This doesn’t mean being a pushover, but you’re looking through the lens of grace, clearly communicating, loving on them, and being grace-led as you handle the conflict.

In my opinion, there’s absolutely no situation that warrants yelling. That may be an extreme statement. But what situation in your life warrants yelling?

If we take an honest look at why we’re yelling (in a marital argument, with our kids, or at work), it’s often because we are so impatient, and we are unwilling to exercise the level of communication and patience it would take to resolve the conflict. Therefore we yell, which is just a temporary solution, because it gets everybody to stop.

But that is not positive conflict resolution. It typically comes back to us, comes back to the way that we are lacking in our leadership. I’m not perfect, and the more and more I have grown in my faith and learned how to be a God-led leader, this one continues to come up for me. I’m growing in this area, and I want to continue to grow in this. I want to be an example, and I would encourage you to do the same.

Become a Better Leader by Continuing to Learn and Focusing on Humility

Proverbs 2:2-6 – “Turn your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding. Indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding; if you look for it as for silver and search for this hidden treasure, you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”

How do we cultivate this mindset of continuous learning and humility and learning? For so many years, I acted like a know-it-all. I thought, “I’ll figure it out. I’ll do it myself. I don’t need coaching or a course.”

I could have made my journey so much easier if I had been willing to humble myself and learn from people who have gone before me.

Become a Better Leader by Being a Principled Decision-maker

Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, submit to Him, and He will make your path straight.”

How do you base your leadership decisions on the principles and values derived from your faith? We trust Him.

We do not lean on ourselves, knowing that we’ll always lead ourselves astray. Therefore, I trust in the Lord. I submit to Him, then my path will be straight.

I’m constantly in a “surrender mode,” consistently in submission. It’s a practice that can become a habit in your life that will help you have principled decision-making. You will always make the wrong decision when you are making that decision 100% on your own.

Become a Better Leader by Focusing on Community and Team Building

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 – “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”

Maybe you feel so lonely on this journey. It can be lonely, especially for those who do this whole time. You podcast behind your microphone, order your groceries online, and work out in your garage. I’m right there with you.

I have to intentionally focus on community. I do this by:

• being a part of a mastermind
• meeting in person with my friends
• connecting with my team
• taking my kids to activities

Remember, you are the blessing in everyone else’s life that you come into contact with. So don’t hide that blessing from the world. Get out there, shine, pour out, be, live, and flourish in community.

Next Steps

I hope you’re able to take these ten ways to use your faith to grow into a better leader, create a framework of who you want to become, and learn how you want to show up in the world. Know that anything is possible with God. No matter how far from these things you are today, getting just one step closer will feel so encouraging, so fulfilling, and you’re gonna want to do more of it.

Testimony

“Stef gives it all away. It’s a beautiful process learning with her on how to brand yourself, niche down, get clarity, and create your personal long-form content outlet. I love learning from her, and the podcast course she offers is the best!” -Michelle Porterfield

Are you still looking for a way to brand yourself, niche down, and get clarity? Feeling confused or stuck? Be sure to check out my free workshop, so you can confidently create the business the Lord is calling you to.

Maybe you have clarity, but you’re still not sold on starting a podcast. Watch my podcasting workshop that explains:

• why podcasting works
• how podcasting works
• how it can be an income-generating platform for you (instead of using social media platforms)

I love walking alongside you in your faith and business journeys. Let’s keep on growing together.

I pray this blesses you!

Xo,

Stef

APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY | GOOGLE PODCAST

---

Before you go, be sure to watch the free workshop!

This free workshop is for you if you want to grow an online business in less time.

It will teach you how to explode your audience without the social media hustle, make consistent sales using a podcast, and plan, record, and launch a podcast with ease!

---

RELATED EPISODES:

6 Things to Pray for Your Business as Women of Faith

5 Tips Proven to Boost Confidence and Defeat The Inner Critic

Exchange Grind For Grace as a Kingdom-Driven Entrepreneur with Shae Bynes

How to Glorify God in Your Secular Business or Podcast

---

---

Join our Facebook Community!

Online Business for Christian Women with Stefanie Gass