If you are a leader you will feel lonely. That’s because the decisions, responsibilities and the burden fall on you first. The question you need to answer is, “How am I going to deal with the loneliness?”
Courtesy of varun suresh/Creative Commons License
No one tells you when you get into ministry that there will be periods where it feels like:
It’s a scary feeling for anyone, but the truth is that you can overcome the loneliness. You can knock down the voices. The key to dealing with lonely leadership is to:
Networking is paramount to combating loneliness. Look for a group of leaders (preferably in youth ministry) and meet regularly. Be honest and authentic. And listen to what’s happening in their lives and share what’s going on in yours. The camaraderie will carry you through.
Confidence is key to erasing that lonely feeling. As a leader you are responsible to grow in your craft. The more you grow the more equipped you will be to:
With confidence you can be determined to see any situation resolved, even if it feels like you are on your own.
When the job gets crazy it’s easy to put yourself against coworkers, volunteers, parents and the world. The truth is that you are worn out. That means you’ve lost your patience and ability to lead clearly.
Take a break. Plan a vacation, build margin into your schedule. Next time you feel tired avoid isolating yourself, just take a breather.
Leadership might be lonely but it’s also a calling. God has called you to lead others. While there might be pressure that comes with it, you need to know that you are never alone. God is with you, you just need to believe that.
The idea of lonely leadership comes from feeling like no one is working with you. Again there are other leaders in your community, connect with them. And, you will always have God on your side.
What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? – Romans 8:31 (NABRE)
[reminder] How do you combat loneliness? [/reminder]