It’s Not How Hard You Work, Its How Smart You Work

A few months ago, I ran in my first marathon in over a decade. It was one of those goals I wanted to hit before turning 40 years old. Over the last ten years, I had participated in several half-marathons and 10K’s, but the marathon was always on the back burner. As those of you who have trained for a road race know, it takes a lot of time, energy, and effort. And to be honest, I’ve had bad experiences, not with the race itself but the training. But, this time, I did something different.

When in my twenties, I might have pushed myself to run harder; this time, I decided to run smarter. That meant more breaks, putting a value on nutrition, and not being afraid to slow down. The same strategy applies to running a ministry. When I was younger, it was all about burning the candle at both ends. If I could not figure something out, I decided to work harder. The result?

A few bouts of burning out, resentment from family members, and disappointment in the results. While it’s important to be a hard worker, it is even more crucial that you work smart. That means not overloading my plate and getting stuck in the busyness. Being a smart leader also means:

INVESTING IN YOUR OWN FORMATION

Ministry needs are constantly changing, and to keep up with all of them can be overwhelming. Being able to adapt and grow is crucial to leading a smart ministry. Unfortunately, too many of us look at our formation as a luxury and not a priority. Smart ministry means putting your spiritual, human, intellectual, and pastoral formation first.

If you don’t know where to start, it all begins with your calendar. Treat your calendar like a budget. If you were in debt, you’d have to eliminate unnecessary spending and replace it with better practices. When it comes to investing in your formation, do an audit of your calendar, and eliminate unnecessary tasks to start focusing on your development. The more you grow as a leader, the more capable you will lead a healthy ministry.

BUILDING A SOLID TEAM AROUND YOU

A smart leader knows that they need a team to carry the burden of their ministry. There is no way we can do everything demanded of us, nor should we try to do everything independently. Ministry is more fun with a team, and it gives you the ability to approach challenges with a new perspective. It’s utilizing the gifts and the talents of the Church, which turns your ministry into a movement.

When it comes to building a team, you need to find a few people you trust. These are men and women you can rely on and show them your vulnerability. Invite them to ask you questions about the vision for your ministry. Ask them to hold you accountable to your goals.

DEVELOPING ONGOING PARTNERSHIPS

I always wanted my ministry to be present in schools, but I never had enough time or volunteers. A few years ago, a local ministry reached out to me and asked if I could partner on bringing teens to Christ. They would be present in the schools, and I would invest in parish ministry. Our leaders would meet together from time to time to pray together and address the community’s needs.

Maybe there is a local business that hires teens (e.g., Chick-fil-a) where you can get to know the owner, ask them questions about their employees, and figure out ways to collaborate on events, training events, etc. Connect with the commissioners or coaches of sports leagues and see if there is a way your ministry can serve their efforts. The point of partnerships is to expand the church’s influence in the community.

REMEMBERING THE BIGGER PICTURE

One reason we get stuck in busyness is that we lose sight of the big picture. A smart leader always remembers why their ministry exists. If you don’t take time to pray, think about, and discuss your ministry’s vision, you are going to find yourself going in circles. Thinking about your vision needs to be a regular exercise. It is going to help you examine whether or not you are heading in the right direction. Having a vision gives you the confidence to make decisions that will bring your ministry where it needs to go. It’s the compass to the wilderness that comes with youth ministry.

You do not have to work harder, simply smarter, to run a healthy and vibrant ministry. We only have so much time and energy and to think we can do it all on our own is insane. To work smarter, you sometimes need to slow things down, take a step back, and assess where you are. It’s also helpful to have someone guide you.

At Marathon Youth Ministry, we are all about helping you lead smart, and that is why we offer coaching and cohorts. If you are tired of always being busy and want to start being more efficient with your time, energy, and resource, then join our membership site MYM U. For only $35 a month, you’ll not only have unlimited access to COURSES and CONTENT but COACHING to help you grow as a leader. To learn more and get started, click the button below.

Where are you hoping to improve as a leader in ministry?