We all face suffering, personal and vocational. Leaders are not only exempt from suffering, often they experience more of it than those who do not lead. How we handle suffering has a huge impact on our families, work, leadership and lives. Suffering changes us whether we like it or not. Unprocessed suffering is the only […]
Author: marcus
Do I have friends inside and outside of my ministry setting?
It is important for leaders to have friends inside and outside of their ministry/work/leadership setting. There are many that you should not be friends with those you lead, those in your church (for pastors) or those who report to you. While that is one perspective, it is not a healthy and realistic perspective. Pastors, ministry […]
What kind of support system do I have in my ministry setting? Outside of my ministry setting?
Support systems are essential to ministry. One cannot lead in ministry, non-profit or any other organization without support. Leaders need support systems inside their organizations and outside their organizations. They must be people that you can trust. They must be people whom you can be honest with. It is also critical to have a support […]
How can I learn more about my area of ministry? Other areas of ministry? How can I learn about things not related to ministry?
For many ministry leaders, and even other leaders (you can replace the word ministry for leadership in these questions) we forget that a core requirement of leadership is life-long learning. The truth is that we always have more to learn, can always grow and will always have strengths and weaknesses to develop and address. The […]
Do I feel healthy? How do I feel about my health? My body?
For many leaders, taking care of themselves physically is an afterthought. For some, this is not a problem, because they are naturally able to stay healthy, but for most this is a great challenge. Long hours, little time for exercise, eating quickly and in an unhealthy way are all very easy when you are the […]
Am I in touch with what I am feeling and can I express this?
Self-knowledge is an essential tool for all leaders. One of the cornerstones of self-knowledge is being able to identify and healthily express your feelings. It also means that at some level you can identify why you have those feelings. Most leaders are very hesitant to express their feelings, especially to those they lead. While there […]
Do I have a Pastor and/or Spiritual Director? How often do we meet?
This one is a simple yes or no question. Every pastor, leader and Christian should have a pastor and/or a spiritual director that ministers to, cares for, encourages and holds them accountable as they grow in their relationship with Christ. Depending on the season of life and ministry, you should meet with these individuals 2-12 […]
What excuses and reasons do I use for not practicing self-care?
We all make excuses, even leaders and especially so around self-care. What excuse or excuses to you tend to make the most when it comes to thinking about why you neglect your own self-care. Is it because you are too busy, there is too much need or too much to do. Better yet, does your […]
Do my children feel that the ministry comes first?
This is the question that no pastor with a family wants to ask, answer or even think about. The reality is that the answer will always be yes to some extent and that is unavoidable. That said, this question is not referring to those rare moments where a leader has to leave a soccer game […]
Am I open to feedback from those who supervise me and work with me?
Leaders, disciples, followers of Jesus must all be life-long learners. As a leader, its important, even if you are at the very top of your organization to be truly open to feedback. We usually believe we are far more open to feedback than we truly are and even more so than we come across. Feedback […]