illwwwI’m a leadership junky. I love reading books, listening to podcasts, watching videos, and going to conferences where my leadership itch can be scratched. I love learning how to be a leader, but
applying all those wonderful principles is another challenge.
I know what I should do, but applying some of these habits seemed impossible. I was memorizing all the quotes, and sharing the information with others, but I wasn’t sure how to use it myself. What I had to realize is that I needed to:
Get the fears out there in the open
I don’t want to disappoint people. I am afraid of putting myself out there and getting rejected. I don’t want to live a life of ignorance. The list of fears that I face regularly can be paralyzing.
They change and morph; it can be a real challenge to stay on top of them all. To face the fears and get them out in the open I:
- Surround myself with people who care about what I do and who I am
- Keep a journal where I consistently name them
- Offer them up in prayer and remember Matthew 6:34
It’s a constant battle, and you will get attacked. Name them, share them, and move through them. The more you can identify and articulate them, the more apparent it will become to conquer them.
Remember the importance of why I’m doing what I’m doing
I usually wonder, “What am I doing?” when I’m reading emails or some mundane task. I lose motivation when I’m stuck in the nitty-gritty details feeling like there is no end to the busywork.
Remembering the purpose of your ministry is essential. You aren’t just doing a “JOB,” you are a part of something bigger and more significant. To avoid this feeling I:
- Save emails and letters that people I’ve impacted have given me
- Tell others about successes and accomplishments in my ministry
- Write out the mission statement to my department and post it right in front of me
As soon as I start losing hope or feeling despair I revisit those items right away. I share with people what I’m experiencing, and they remind me of the bigger picture. Why you do what you do is essential to motivating you as a leader.
Make stopping, pausing and listening to a priority
It’s hard to feel productive when you aren’t doing anything, but sometimes all a leader needs to do is take a step back. This is why I have a coach in my life. He and I meet monthly to step out of the trenches of my personal and professional experience to assess my current situation.
I’ve had to build margin in between meetings, so I don’t feel rushed during a conversation. It’s about reminding myself that I don’t need to have a response but listen by focusing on the tone of the words, the body language of an individual, and the emotion coming forth.
You won’t always be perfect, but you need to be persistent. When you take a break, walk around the church building and practice your listening. Keep at this habit so that you can free yourself and conserve the energy to do live like a leader.
Rely on God’s grace
Prayer life is so important. It might seem like a cliché, but the reality is that it can’t be overstated. You need God to do God’s work, and that means developing an intentional prayer life. I found it helpful to sit in Adoration once a week at another church. I’ve done devotionals and meditative prayers, anything to help me listen to God’s promptings.
In addition to having a professional coach, I’ve had spiritual directors and mentors to remind me that I’m not in control. Again, you don’t have to be perfect in your practice, so keep working towards it even if you fall off the path for a little bit.
Being a leader isn’t always easy, but it doesn’t have to be burdensome. Embrace all the information out there on how to lead well, but at the same time, remember it’s okay to be human. Rely on others and work out your faith so that you can continually lead with confidence.
What has helped you lead beyond your comfort zone?
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