Maintain a teachable spirit. A humble leader is a learner.
When asked what skill would be best in a staff member, I’ve always said “teachability”. When someone has a teachable spirit, their fault and flaws don’t seem as hard to deal with. Although I’ve lived here for ten years, I still have much to learn. As often as we can, Niel and I spend time with other ministry leaders. We ask questions, we listen well, we ask for advice. We are learners first, leaders second. In the seasons where my learning has slowed up or even stopped due to busyness or arrogance, my leadership always takes a nosedive.
Burnout is real. A burned-out leader no longer leads; she just maintains.
I know this all too well. My wick has been burning on both ends for far too long. I have a lot of theories and even practices I’ve done over the years to prevent burnout, but nothing with enough consistency and commitment to really make an impact. I’m in a place of being tired and drained, and I know—I know—I’m no longer leading the way I should be, the way God wants me to be. I’d appreciate your prayers for inner strength and true rest.
How teachable are you? (How do you handle correction?)
What insights or thoughts do you have for battling burnout in full-time ministry?
Wow - this whole series has been great! Thank you so very much for putting your thoughts on ‘paper’. I know I will be referring back to these from time to time.
Here is how I feel about correction: No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Heb 12:11) And the pain is because I usually don’t see it coming. Correction comes upon me in areas where I have a blind-spot. If there was a sign plastered above my bed on the ceiling when I woke up that said “warning: you are going to be corrected today” then maybe the pain would not be as great. But if that happened I might avoid the correction altogether.
That is why I like the however part of that verse… training = a barnful of righteousness and peace. Keep my eyes on the prize and I can do the drills of training required of me.
(I have been in teacher mode the last two days - can you tell?) :o)
Now the burnout part… I said a plural prayer for you and me both. Yeah - I know the info (books, techniques, practices, etc… like you said). It would be Pharisaical for me to even attempt addressing this vital issue with anything else than a strained supplication for the grace and forgiveness of God.
God help us move out of maintenance into momentum.
By: @ngie on April 3, 2008
at 7:33 pm
thank you, angie…
By: alece on April 3, 2008
at 7:42 pm
1) Now think I am very teachable. It only took me 60 years to get to this point. When I was in school I was the worst student any one could imagine. During most of the early part of my career I was terrible at handling criticism. I would either get depressed because I failed at something or angry that some, obviously least intelligent person, could find fault with my work. I would not have hired the young man I was.
My choice was to listen and learn or keep failing and get fired. Luckily I learned to get past my emotional reaction and to listen and learn what I needed to do to improve my work, and myself.
2) I have no good answer to how to handle burnout. More than once I have reached the point where I had over extended myself. My work reflected how unfocused I had become. I had to either take a break, regain my energy, or continue to fail to perfom adequately. I also did learn from my father and grandfather who both suffered nervious breakdowns.
Your body will tell you when you are near a burnout. The question is will you listen. If you don’t you will get sick and fail at whatever work you are doing, unless of course you have super powers. :)
By: edfromct on April 3, 2008
at 10:01 pm
Angie’s comment is SO good. On both counts. If I could see correction coming and prepare - it wouldn’t hurt quite so bad. And I’d have time to reflect so that when the correction came I could take it with dignity instead of sputtering pride.
As to burnout - I would think myself far above where I am if I attempted to counsel you on what to do with ministry burnout. Recalling Jesus - he got away by himself a lot. I think that is very good. Making deliberate time with no ministry involved. I do believe that rest is something God believes very strongly in. It is so elemental that He Himself does it. Even though he has no limits and no need for sleep. Both the Sabbath rest and the myriad of feasts and celebrations throughout the year that we read about in Scripture - they were ordered! Not just ‘a day on the calendar to think about once a year.’ Or week. Ordered. Commanded. At least three of them included the consequence that a person was to be ‘cut off from among Israel’ if they broke it. I think that means ‘no more covenant with us.’ Pretty dire. Do we take our own rest with this kind of gravity? Also - which you’ve covered in another point - Moses faced burnout too, and the solution for him then was one of delegation. He realized that he literally couldn’t do everything himself - that the vision was greater than his own capacity to fulfill it.
I hope this helps. I have never been where you are, so I tried to draw on the Word for answers. I will remember to keep this in my prayers for you as well.
By: annie on April 3, 2008
at 10:02 pm
ed — i sure wish i had super powers…
annie — yeah, i’ve been mulling over some thoughts on sabbath again. (recurring theme on my blog over the years.) if my thoughts ever combine in a sensical way, they’ll make it on here. good stuff, though. thanks for the prayers.
By: alece on April 3, 2008
at 11:10 pm
Alece, when dealing with emtional burnout it can help to take time to look around you and see what has been accomplished, the good you have been a part of. The young people you have help to find, and sustain, their faith. The smiles on the faces of the friends you have made. To understand you are a part of something bigger.
It is amazing out much energy a smile, or a hug, can provide. The love you feel for others, the love they give back to you, is the fuel feeds your heart, even when your body is feeling so very tired.
Take the time to drink in that love. Love is the best pick-me-up I know. A little rest will also help as well. :)
By: edfromct on April 3, 2008
at 11:21 pm
mmm… ed, your words are timely. thank you. my husband and i head to the states in a week from today. and while we have a very busy ministry schedule (7 states in 5.5 weeks!), i’m looking forward to being loved on by family and friends. there are a few hugs i literally cannot wait for!
By: alece on April 3, 2008
at 11:30 pm
I hope I’m teachable.
I have no ideas about burnout…other than “take a break”
By: danielle on April 4, 2008
at 1:22 am
I think I’m teachable… but I also know that my receptivity depends on who is teaching. I know there are always lessons to learn… from everyone… but my “teachability” radar is up when I know I’m gleaning from someone who has walked further down a particular road than I have. When I face someone or a situation without a teachable heart… I usually end up learning something later by looking closer at my mistakes… and unfortunately- sometimes those are the best lessons.
Burnout is SO REAL!! I remember it well from my social work days… the constant investment in others, the demanding hours, the slow “results”… sometimes it just gets the best of you. I think you need to find what is restorative for you… be it blogging, reading, music, etc… and make a date w/ yourself for that purpose EVERY day. And something new I’ve been challenged with… give yourself a half of a day per week to truly have a sabbath… no work & creating a space for your heart to be restored (for me that means unplugging… no phone, tv, computer, etc..). It’s hard though- cuz’ the last thing you want to do when the to-do list keeps growing… is take time out.
In a way- I never really thought of this… but I bet “parenting” a ministry is a lot like parenting a child… it NEVER stops… it is 24/7 even when you’re “off”. I bet the burnout is similar too…
love you!!
By: Amy on April 4, 2008
at 2:11 am
it’s hard to be teachable when you know everything.
By: daniel on April 4, 2008
at 7:06 am
OR
the more time i have spent in leadership the more i realize that i need to serve those i lead. peopel are more willing to follow that model than that of a dictator. you may end up with obedience, but without respect or love or some emotional connection/response it is merely legalism. i make a point to sit down with a couple peopel under me to learn form their life experiences and i t has proven itself to be worthwhile (and not as humiliiating as i first thought).
burnout - first let me encourage you. you have an army of people here stateside and across this globe that are praying you for daily. the fire and drive in you is a testimony to the greatness that God has in store for you. danielle and i consantly talk about the two of you and how incredible a ministry ya’ll have built (i know God has built it but he chose the two of you to be His hands). be careful that the ‘wick’ that is burning is the passion for what God has set before you for that can never be consumed. don’t let it be your relationships that are burned for those can not be replaced. don’t let it be your time with niel that is sacrificed because when a husband and wife are working in unity (even when other sides of the ocean for a bit) power is present.
know that even though you only have a handful of people arond you that can physically be there, you are in a very real sense surrounded by a great cloud of of witnesses that are interceding for you.
we love you guys
By: daniel on April 4, 2008
at 7:20 am
kitty — i’ve never thought of it that way (parenting the ministry); but i think you’re right.
daniel — i needed that. thank you.
By: alece on April 4, 2008
at 2:58 pm
battle burnout? sabbaticals work wonders… last year was the first year since high school that i wasn’t involved in some type of ministry. stayed that way for about 7 glorious months. and it replenished my energy to get back in the game.
sabbatical. yes…. ahhhhhh……….
By: mandythompson on April 4, 2008
at 9:18 pm
Wow. These were great to read.
Thanks.
By: Becca on April 4, 2008
at 9:39 pm
mandy — i want to take a sabbatical, but we’re not in a position to. how do you make that work without someone to do your job, provide income, etc. etc. etc.?????
By: alece on April 4, 2008
at 11:08 pm
al: i know. i thought about that with your situation. thing is, if we don’t take a break, we won’t be able to do our jobs anyway…. so i don’t know. oftentimes, when people work on a team, they can divide the responsibilities out…. and ideally, income can be saved up for the time away, or it can be a part of the job - written in the description to take sabbaticals.
for me, we just moved! :) we left Georgia and moved to Massachusetts and i didn’t have any ministry responsibilities when i arrived…. so all i had was time to chill. and i totally chilled. i left some INTENSE ministry situations behind in Georgia. i left some stuff that was really really really a burden on me. and it felt SO good to let go.
maybe somehow, someday, you can do that. maybe you can tack on some “alone” or “be still” vacation time when you make your trips to the states…. maybe something is possible…………..
By: mandythompson on April 5, 2008
at 12:47 am
I was curious to know what a sabbatical is. It seems to have the same root as sabbath.
So wikipedia has some interesting thoughts on the topic:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabbatical
Here are some tid bits from the article
A sabbatical (from Greek sabbatikos) is a prolonged hiatus, typically one year, in the career of an individual taken in order to fulfill some goal, e.g., writing a book or traveling extensively for research.
Sabbaticals are often taken by professors, pastors, cartoonists (e.g. Gary Larson and Bill Watterson), musicians (e.g. Cindy Wilson, Bobby McFerrin) and sportsmen (e.g. Alain Prost). Academic sabbaticals are typically for one year following six years of full-time employment.
So, we are both up for one of these. :-) It sounds very interesting. But like you said, how do the logistics of it work?
By: @ngie on April 5, 2008
at 5:08 am
Hi Leesh :-)
(I have NO experience in ministry - leading or otherwise - so it’s easy for me to say this - bear that in mind ok? ;-) )
It is great and i think that you are one of the lucky few to have found a ‘job’ (ok - calling) you love and one that demonstrates DAILY your Love for Him.
But He knows that no-one can go on ‘giving’ forver and ever without a rest now and then.
It is one thing to take a day out of seven ‘off’ and just serve the Lord and not our fellow man. But He knows we need more than just that.
He knows that even the soil of the earth needs time in fallow - to rest and recover in order for full harvests to be brought to crop each year (or six out of every seven!)
You find it difficult to take a sabbatical? Because no-one can ‘replace’ you for one year? (Or out of a feeling of ‘guilt’ perhaps?) :-)
Have you so designed your minsitry with Neil so that neither of you can afford time away?
Was that carelessness on your parts? or caring too much?- or just lack of foresight and planning? ;-)
Obey Him - take a break every seven - y’hear??
( Lev 25:1-7)
Otherwise - I love your work here! :-) Hope you have fun on your trip.
love <B
By: lovewillbringustogether on April 5, 2008
at 5:36 am
P.S. - I could be wrong ( it happend once!) :-) but, to me, part of Leadership means enabling others to become leaders in our place.
What’s the worst that could happen?
Actually - it’s probably best you DON’T think about that! ;-)
love <B
By: lovewillbringustogether on April 5, 2008
at 5:40 am
our whole ministry is focused on training up leaders. we believe strongly in the whole concept of “working ourselves out of a job”. that task is a lot more challenging when you are the heads of the ministry, though; it’s hard enough for our department heads. it’s definitely something we’re working towards… but in the meantime?!?!
it’s very different for us than in the business world. we can’t just put out feelers, collect resumes, and hire our next ceo. so until we have someone rise up from within our organization to take over, we’re it. and not because we’re power hungry or don’t delegate responsibility. we have a great staff team who all work very hard. that’s just it — they are already working hard and putting in long hours without us dumping our responsibilities on them as well. and some responsibilities just can’t/won’t be carried by someone other than the “mom and pop” of the thing. know what i mean?
i will be taking a month “off” (mostly) to visit some friends at the end of our ministry trip in the usa. and while i’m so grateful for that and really really really looking forward to it, i guess i see that somehow as still very different from a sabbatical.
i’d love to someday be able to take six months off (gasp) with niel. i don’t know if we’ll ever get there, though. maybe when we have a stellar ministry administrator in place.
::shrug::
By: alece on April 5, 2008
at 10:44 am
Just ’sow the seed’.. let Him water it a little… and see what ‘harvest’ you can gather! ;-)
( and of course i totally understand the situation :-) )
love <B
By: lovewillbringustogether on April 5, 2008
at 10:53 am
what seed do i sow to reap that harvest?
By: alece on April 5, 2008
at 11:28 pm