Wola Joseph-Condotti 
There is a side of leadership that does not show up in our performance reports, strategy decks, or board evaluations. It is the weight no one sees. The part of leadership that keeps you awake long after everyone else has gone to bed. Those decisions that are not just tactical, but moral. The tensions between profit and people. The silent battles between what is expedient and what is right.
That weight? It is spiritual
We often think of leadership in terms of output: profits, results, targets, visibility. But for those of us who lead with conscience and conviction, leadership is not just an act of influence. It is an assignment.
And with every assignment comes a spiritual responsibility.
Leadership as Stewardship
In my own journey, I have come to understand that leadership is not ownership. It is stewardship. The teams we lead, the businesses we shape, the policies we influence, even the platforms we are given, they do not ultimately belong to us. We are entrusted with them.
That shift in mindset is everything.
When you understand that your leadership is divine stewardship, you start asking different questions:
*Am I making decisions that honour people as much as they honour performance?
*Have I created space for wisdom, not just intellect?
*Is my success rooted in strategy alone, or is it anchored in something deeper?
This does not mean you abandon pragmatism. It means you align it. Because purpose without excellence is weak. But excellence without purpose is dangerous.
The Invisible Crossroads
There are moments in every leadership journey where the lines are not clearly drawn. Where policy and pressure clash with values and vision. Where the spreadsheet says one thing, but your spirit says another.
In those moments, discernment becomes your compass.
For me, discernment often begins in silence. In prayer, in seeking divine wisdom beyond what the board papers offer. I have learnt that not every opportunity is a door God wants opened. Not every crisis is meant to be resolved the obvious way. Not every opposition is a sign to retreat.
There are decisions I have made that made no sense on paper, but later revealed divine foresight. And there are others I made out of pressure, only to learn that not every loud voice is a wise one.
Spiritual Warfare in Corporate Clothing
We do not often talk about it, but there are spiritual dimensions to leadership warfare. It is not always about competitors or colleagues. Sometimes, it is fear, or pride, or weariness, or isolation. These invisible battles do not respond to emails or meetings. They respond to presence, to faith, to anchoring.
I have had seasons where everything was progressing externally, yet I felt dry inside. And I have learnt to take those cues seriously. Because burnout is not just physical, it is spiritual.
One of the hardest lessons I have learnt is this: You cannot pour from an empty well, even if the world keeps clapping.
The Secret Place is the Strategy Room
We live in a world where transparency is applauded, but intimacy with God is private. And yet, it is in the secret place; in prayer, meditation, reflection, that I have found the strategies that saved whole organisations.
I do not say this lightly. There are times I have prayed not just for wisdom, but for courage. Not just for staff, but for strength. Not just for clarity, but for grace.
We lead with our minds, but we sustain with our spirit.
Final Thoughts
Leadership is lonely, heavy, and complex. But it is also holy, purposeful, and profound. The deeper you go, the more you realise that your decisions echo beyond quarterly reports. They shape culture, impact families, and sometimes alter destinies.
So, to every executive, entrepreneur, team leader, or decision-maker reading this: Do not underestimate the spiritual weight of your role. Invite God into your boardroom. Take your burdens to the One who sees beyond projections. And lead not just with brilliance, but with conviction.
Because when you lead with your spirit aligned, you don’t just manage outcomes, you steward legacy.
Wola Joseph-Condotti is the Group Managing Director/CEO of West Power & Gas Limited. A Harvard-trained lawyer and passionate advocate for faith-driven leadership, gender equity, and energy transition in Africa, she writes from the intersection of power, purpose, and personal growth.