Lean on your Team

How do you handle burnout? What impact does it have on you mentally and physically?

In this Faith and Leadership Insight, I will be talking about pushing beyond your limits and how important it is to lean on your team if your leadership is going to be sustainable. I was on a family vacation a few months ago and I dropped my phone into Morro Bay. I found that out with my Iphone; it can’t survive 20 feet of water for four hours!

Many of us are experiencing a “pandemic burnout”,  the article How to Tell Your Boss You’re Burned Out by Ron Carucci is a great article that can help you notice these behaviors with your team. Unfortunately, this article describes the burnout that many people are experiencing and may not realize it yet.

Do you feel that you are working without boundaries or beyond your limit?

Often we need containment and acceptance as we begin to realize what we are doing isn’t sustainable. These Quadrant 1 relational nutrients from People Fuel by Dr. John Townsend are critical, we need to make sure that we have a life team; coworkers; friends that we get this from. I have seen too many people work themselves to the point where they can’t function any longer because they have ignored their own relational nutrients needs.

We might even need ADVICE or STRUCTURE to change our path…what type of narrative are you telling yourself about getting help. When you get into Quadrant 4, there is a call to action. Often we just don’t see a path forward and leaning on your team will help you see that path.

A student named CJ discovered attunement and acceptance through his work in the Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine. What relational nutrients are you missing in your life? He discovered that people were crying in the parking lot before they came into work, they were pushed to their limit. He attuned to her and began to help her make changes. His team actually had a party for him in the breakroom celebrating this new found empathy and self awareness.

Have you ever wanted to impress someone? I believe in Exodus 18, Moses wanted to show Jethro that he had embraced his leadership role. I find the works of Exodus 18: 17-18 to be incredibly powerful: Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. ¹⁸ You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.”

Remember, God didn’t intend for you to lead alone; you need to lean on your team and embrace the gifts and talents they bring. Maybe you have pushed yourself beyond your limits or you feel at the brink today. My encouragement is that you find a life team and get the relational nutrients you need to create the boundaries that will keep you balanced.

Ultimately, I had to get a new phone…it was pushed beyond its limits. As you think about where God has placed you; lean on others, your life team to keep you balanced.

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