Laying Bricks or Building Cathedrals? Leading with Purpose
In 1671, world-renowned architect, Christopher Wren, was commissioned to rebuild St. Paul’s Cathedral which had been destroyed in the great fire of 1666. It is said that he came upon three men laying bricks. He asked the first, “What are you doing?” Without looking up, the man replied, “I’m a bricklayer. I’m working to be paid.” When the second was asked, he answered, “We’re building a wall for a building that will stand here in the future.” But the third man stood, wiped his brow, and said with passion, “We’re building a cathedral that will hold hundreds of people. It will have majestic spires and stained-glass windows and will serve to bring worship to God Almighty.”
All three men were doing the same task and took their work seriously. However, the third man had a clear sense of divine purpose. He saw beyond the labor and connected his work to something greater than himself.
Purpose transforms the mundane into the meaningful. Viktor Frankl, Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist, wrote, “Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.” In the darkest of conditions, those who clung to a deeper reason to survive often endured. Purpose fuels resilience.
Throughout life, we wrestle with core questions:
Who am I?
What is my purpose?
How can I live out my purpose?
These questions don’t go away—they evolve throughout our lives. Early in life, my purpose revolved around educational achievement. Then it became ministry success. Over time, it shifted toward legacy and how I could affect the younger generations. True purpose, especially as Christian leaders, involves transformation—becoming who God has called us to be for His Kingdom purpose.
For leaders, this inward journey is essential. However, in our fast-paced world, reflection often gets pushed aside. Leaders are trained in skills and strategy, but not always encouraged to stop and examine identity and purpose.
Coaching provides a unique space—a sacred space—for leaders to process complex thoughts, gain clarity, and connect deeply with their purpose. A coach acts as a thought partner, not giving answers but drawing out insights already placed within a person by God. Sometimes those insights move us forward into who we’re meant to be; other times, they reveal what’s been holding us back.
Coaches ask powerful questions that cut through the noise and help leaders explore layers of meaning—personally, professionally, and organizationally. Coaching doesn’t just benefit individuals. It can bring clarity to entire teams or companies, surfacing questions like: What’s hindering progress? How do we cultivate purpose at every level? How do we unite around a shared vision?
A recent study of 70 organizational leaders found that coaching significantly enhanced leadership effectiveness across multiple dimensions.¹ Leaders who engaged in coaching showed greater ability to lead change, increased self-awareness, and a stronger capacity to build trust within their organizations. It’s no surprise that coaching is becoming an integral part of leadership development.
Ultimately, the leader who takes time to reflect not only on goals and decisions but on their deeper identity and purpose becomes a more impactful leader. It is this internal transformation—guided by awareness and intentional action—that leads to external transformation in organizations, communities, and families.
As you continue to lead, ask yourself:
Am I simply laying bricks, or am I building with a cathedral in mind?
Am I taking time to process who I am becoming?
Am I living out my purpose for this season?
Let the sense of purpose fuel your leadership—and let coaching help you unlock the fullness of who you are meant to become.
¹ Halliwell, Peter R., et al. “Leadership effectiveness through coaching: Authentic and change-oriented leadership.” PLOS ONE, vol. 18, no. 12, e0294953. 6 Dec. 2023. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0294953.
