How to Stay Healthy as a Leader in the Church

Sep 15

Written by Emily Banks
Worship Leader, Songwriter, Digital Creative

So much of what we do, in life and in ministry rises and falls on good leadership. In fact, I would argue that not much in life would ever really happen if there wasn’t someone (aka you) there to lead it. With this in mind, I suggest that your health as a leader is absolutely essential, even more than your effectiveness as a leader. I mean, the healthier you are, the more effective you are so it’s all interconnected.

You might be reading this and thinking...I’m not a leader, I’m just the keyboard player, or just the service producer, or just the MD! But please...before you click away, do me a favour...look over your shoulder. Ok, maybe not literally (but you totally can if you want) but figuratively...look around you. If you’re influencing people, you’re leading them. It’s likely that most of you have at least one person “following” you. When it boils down to it, leadership is a mantle that is acquired and earned, not demanded or asserted onto others. It’s a gift, and when handled that way, by a healthy individual, the world can quite literally be changed.

So how do we stay healthy as leaders? How do we thrive in our ministries, and leave the people, places, and conversations we lead in better than when we arrived? Here are my suggestions for how to remain healthy as a leader:

Start with God

Before the crowds, find the quiet with Jesus. Check-in with him, so that your “yes” is really HIS yes, and so that He can tell you no, too :) No matter how high your rise in your leadership, you should always feel led. God is in control, and a good dose of humility does wonders for your leadership. Daily investments into reading God’s word, and time set aside for prayer and reflection will help you keep the main thing the main thing. After all, if Jesus isn’t the one we are leading people to, then what’s the point of our leadership?

2. Form healthy habits

Life doesn’t ever slow down. While we may not always feel like we’re in a hurry, we are constantly aware of the busyness in the world around us. Before you know it a busy week has turned into a busy month and then a busy year. Arguably the most fundamental principle for healthy leadership is creating healthy habits in your life. James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, revolutionized my perspective on habits in my personal life. He writes, “Habits are not a finish line to be crossed, they are a lifestyle to be lived.” It’s SO true. Every little decision we make to prioritize our health, whether it’s water, sleep, physical activity, healthy work boundaries, or screen time limitations, has a massive impact on our present and future. Leadership is a life long marathon, not a sprint. So set in place those habits now.

3. Deal with your stuff

Leadership certainly isn’t for the faint of heart. It will require you to grow, learn, and heal in ways you never anticipated. To really flourish as a leader, and impact those we are leading, means we have to get real about our stuff. The emotional baggage that we’ve kept hidden away, the physical conditions we’ve left untreated, the debt we are avoiding, or the real mental health concerns we’ve been writing off. It’s not that God won’t use us when we have stuff in our lives, but when left undealt with, our ministries can be negatively impacted. We can’t afford to have another Christian leader fall, or ministry collapse or community damaged because a leader refuses to get real and then deal with their stuff.

4. Lead from the overflow

As leaders, the time and energy we spend receiving should significantly outweigh what we give out. Yes, it’s counter-cultural, but that’s kind of the point. When we are running on empty, we become people that no one wants to be around, let alone follow. Burnout is a scary and very present reality for too many leaders and we must get better at promoting a healthy margin. Alternatively, when we are seeking inner growth and obedience, spending time around life-giving mentors, and watching the overall health of our soul, our impact multiplies exponentially. We naturally become the type of person others are drawn to and our ministry seems effortless because it’s drawing from a life filled to overflowing.

5. Expect change

Good leaders not only reflect the values, hopes, and beliefs of an organization or ministry but also imagine a larger future. Sometimes this future is met with resistance or even sabotage and requires the right response to concerns all while maintaining their direction. However, at times, things can require a necessary change, and healthy leaders know how to use their influence to make sure it happens. Sometimes the best way forward is to realize when something isn’t working and to throw it out and start over. Adaptability, especially in our new reality as Covid-affected ministries, will truly be the make or break for each of us as leaders. Stay agile, stay open, and stay willing...even if it means laying down your plan for the sake of your people.

My hope for each of us (myself included) is that we would embrace the type of leader we were uniquely created to be, and engage with our sphere of influence as Jesus did when he was leading. There may be loads of other tips out there, but number 1 is what it all comes down to.

Keep your eyes on Jesus. He is the author of our best ideas, the greatest revolutionary leader, and the most gentle and powerful Lord.

Peace,

Emily Banks