{"id":73810,"date":"2022-07-04T15:29:22","date_gmt":"2022-07-04T21:29:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mesonaz.org\/?p=73810"},"modified":"2022-07-20T15:29:38","modified_gmt":"2022-07-20T21:29:38","slug":"practical-insight-to-navigate-leadership-pain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mesonaz.org\/en\/practical-insight-to-navigate-leadership-pain\/","title":{"rendered":"Practical Insight To Navigate Leadership Pain"},"content":{"rendered":"

Practical Insight To Navigate Leadership<\/span> Pain<\/span><\/a><\/strong>
\nBy Dan Reiland<\/p>\n

When you are uncertain if the pain<\/span> of<\/span> leadership<\/span> is worth the outcomes of<\/span> leadership<\/span>, you are likely to experience frustration, doubt, and lack of<\/span> joy.\u00a0We all love the promise of<\/span> leadership<\/span>. Changed lives, a better future, and the advancement of<\/span> God\u2019s Kingdom. It\u2019s when the promise of<\/span> leadership<\/span> hits the pain<\/span> of<\/span> leadership<\/span> that we can begin to doubt and ask, \u201cIs it really worth it?\u201d<\/p>\n

The pain<\/span> of<\/span> leadership<\/span> shows up in several different ways. Here are just a few.<\/p>\n

The pain<\/span> of<\/span> being misunderstood<\/strong>
\nCommunication is complicated. Social media interprets your words, and they travel at light speed. It\u2019s difficult to recapture truth when perception wins the moment.<\/p>\n

The pain<\/span> of<\/span> rejection<\/strong>
\nIt\u2019s more challenging to lead today than ever before. If you say the wrong thing (anything can be wrong to somebody), you can be canceled.<\/p>\n

The pain<\/span> of<\/span> a personal attack<\/strong>
\nThose you have loved, served and developed for years can take you by complete surprise with a personal attack.<\/p>\n

The pain<\/span> of<\/span> deep discouragement<\/strong>
\nDiscouragement is highly prevalent among church leaders. It\u2019s perhaps the leading cause of<\/span> throwing in the towel.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, Covid has elevated that reality. When you read a list like this, it\u2019s a sobering reality.<\/p>\n

The first step in navigating leadership<\/span> pain<\/span> is to decide if it\u2019s worth it. You have a sense that the right answer is \u201cYes, it\u2019s worth it.\u201d But it so of<\/span>ten doesn\u2019t\u00a0feel<\/em>\u00a0that way.\u00a0You can\u2019t talk yourself into true belief. The \u201cdutiful solider\u201d thing will help you get through a tough season, but it doesn\u2019t work for a lifetime. <\/em>You need to authentically believe that the pain<\/span> of<\/span> leadership<\/span> is worth the promise of<\/span> leadership<\/span> at a heart level to stay in the game for the long road.<\/p>\n

Practical Insight to Help You Keep Going – 3 Truths About Leadership<\/span> Pain<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

1) There is no progress without pain<\/span>.<\/strong>
\nProf<\/span>essional football players know they\u2019ll never score without some pain<\/span> while moving the ball down the field. But, it comes with the territory, and they\u2019ll tell you it\u2019s worth it!<\/p>\n

How much more for us who get to serve the church?!\u00a0There is no progress without pain<\/span>; therefore, leadership<\/span> comes with a cost. That is why you must first decide that the pain<\/span> is worth the promise.\u00a0We would all love it if leadership<\/span> consisted of<\/span> blissful lunch meetings with wonderful volunteer leaders, good cof<\/span>fee while studying the Bible, and people lining up to serve in the nursery. But we all know that\u2019s not the reality of<\/span> leadership<\/span>.\u00a0Sacrifice, setbacks, and struggles line the path of<\/span> leadership<\/span>, but progress toward the vision makes it all worthwhile and then some!<\/p>\n

Embracing the pain<\/span> does not mean that we seek it or enjoy it. It\u2019s not about some weird ascetic perspective of<\/span> pain<\/span>. It\u2019s simply acknowledging reality.<\/p>\n

2) Personal growth comes through pain<\/span>. \u00a0<\/strong>
\nIn his excellent book\u00a0Leadership<\/span> Pain<\/span><\/em>: The Classroom for Growth<\/a>, My friend Sam Chand writes, \u201cYou\u2019ll grow only to the threshold of<\/span> your pain<\/span>.\u201d That is such a prof<\/span>ound truth.<\/p>\n

So many good leaders have \u201ctapped out\u201d (quit) because the pain<\/span> became too great. As a result, they are no longer in ministry. In some cases, this was the wise and healthy thing to do, but many times, if each person could see to the other side of<\/span>pain<\/span>, the personal growth would carry them through.<\/p>\n

Stretching the threshold of<\/span> your pain<\/span> starts with your calling; it\u2019s connected to your vision and resides in your resilience.<\/p>\n

3) You simply cannot outrun pain<\/span>.<\/strong>
\nAs a young leader, I was bright-eyed and eager; I had no idea there was opposition. Today, I\u2019m still fired up and incredibly hopeful about the future, but I\u2019m very aware of<\/span>the price tag and have learned how to successfully navigate it.\u00a0I have learned that as leaders, we cannot outrun pain<\/span>, and when we try, it makes things worse.<\/p>\n

The most common ways leaders attempt to outrun pain<\/span> is by:<\/p>\n