I have a little something cooking on the side, and I could really use your help here.
There are quite a few pretty universal challenges to life in leadership. Some that I can think of off the top of my head are:
- Change / Transition
- Criticism
- Expectations
- Family
- Integrity
- Marriage
- Personal Passion
- Relationships/Friendships
- Spiritual Growth
- Time/Schedules
- Handling Difficult Situations & People
Here is where you come in. Could you tell me the top 3 areas that are a concern for you in your leadership and ministry? What am I missing? What have I forgotten?
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
You can connect with Brandi via 
Handling Difficult Situations/People
Marriage/family
Expectations
I know I kind of cheated with that second one.
Balancing family and home
Social life… having close friends without being criticized.
Finding my place/purpose
Looking forward to covering some of these “hot topics.”
Friendships
Time/schedules
Expectations~figuring out how I fit in my husbands ministry
Knowing My purpose = in ministry
relationships/friends I guess that means social too =)
Maybe Expectations… I think I have expectations that others do NOT have of me!!
Balancing the time is a key factor which goes with time/schedule….Being able to have good time management skills is very essential must be able to balance family, work, ministry, etc. Communication having good communication is also key. Being resourceful utilizing establish givens and/or being innovative. Tolerant/patient. These are just a few on the top of my head I could go on… hope this was helpful.
Feeling too young/unqualified
Doubt that anyone will follow
Figuring out what my ministry would be
Hi Lori,
My Top 3 Challenges:
1. Time/Schedules-keeping a healthy pace
2. Change/Transition
3. Handling difficult Situations/People
Are you writing a book?
G
Navigating Friendships
Isolation
Shielding my kids
Hi Lori. Thanks for asking!
1. Personal Passion
2. Handling Difficult Situations and People
3. Criticism
1. Supporting my husband when Difficult Situations and People Strike, dealing with the drama
2. Protecting my kids from church crap, making sure they grow up loving the church.
3. Personal Passion
@Gretchen … I’ve about talked myself out of that little venture.
On to new ideas! Brandi and I have our wheels turning.
Hi Lori,
(drum roll, please…..)
My top three are:
1. Time/Schedules
2. handling difficult people and situations(without feeling angry or resentful)
3. Growing Spiritually(I’m busy doing the “stuff” so it makes it difficut to invest the time in growing myself….. and we’re back to #1!!!) UUUUUGGGGGHHH!
Friendships/Relationships—- how much and what is okay to share
Handling difficult people
Balancing
Friendships/Relationships
Expectations
I would personally add, “Singleness” … at least that is what I am finding myself struggling with lately. I am not sure there is a lonelier place to be in ministry leadership than single. Especially as a female.
Change / Transition
Marriage
Personal Passion
I think the loneliness would be easy if I could deal with these three head on.
Hey
I would say discouragment is something we deal with from time to time. Is what we are doing really making an impact? For me personaly knowing how to encourage my husband durring these times is something I struggle with.
I also am constantly feeling the rub of keeping focused on God, in the midst of serving. spending enough time with Him, so that I actually HAVE something to give to others.
1. Expectations (my own, that is. I just recently figured out that I am not Superwoman and I don’t really care for that fact. I would like to get everything done perfectly, effortlessly, and on time. I keep getting smacked back into the world of reality!)
2. Relationships/friendships. Being in a leadership role in ministry makes this rather complicated.
3. Spiritual growth. I tend to get caught up in the details of things and start running around Martha-style instead of remembering what is truly important. I neglect myself with the excuse of “serving others” (in many areas, not just this one).
keeping motives pure…not just ‘loving God’ so that others will know him…but because we CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT HIM!! i think this gets lost a lot in christian ministry. we end up falling in love with ‘ministry’ and poor Jesus gets forgotten…
I have to add that I agree with “protecting my kids from church crap” and ….knowing how to deal myself with the church crap that I hear about from my husband when he “vents.” I personally can’t resolve those issues or situations for him (nor is it my job to!) so I’m left feeling deeply frustrated and resentful towards certain people…with no one to “vent” to myself. (Sadly, we’re going through a lot of “church crap” lately. Ugh.)
Mmmm, Christy, we are dealing with a lot of church crap lately too. And I struggle with the same feelings you do when my husband vents. How am I supposed to respond? What do I say? I hurt for him, and I want to hurt the ones hurting him
And who do I vent to? I’ve got no one to lay it all out to. It’s just hard.
Balancing home & kids with ministry
Pursuing my own dreams
Expectations
1relationships/friendships
2.time schedules
3.handling difficult situations/people
not sure what y’all are cookin’ up…sounds like it’s gonna be a good one:)
Alyson and Christy,
I’m with you–dealing with church crap and trying to support my husband without lashing out at those “difficult” people. And yes, wondering who I can confide in or even just vent to. Such a challenge!
1. Fear of Failure…….and struggling with not letting the approval/disapproval of others define success or failure.
2. Trying to be creative with a mind that isn’t necessarily creative.
3. Balancing everything.
1. relationships (real, authentic friendships)
2. balancing schedules, home, and family
3. personal passions
Keep us posted whats to come! Yea. Thanks for this.
Hmmmm, I think the top three rotate… but currently,
-Balance – home/ministry/relationships (oh, that’s three – oops!)
-criticism/negative people
-hearing and following the voice of God – over all the other ‘voices’
Can I get a little more specific? I know that balance requires boundaries, but I always feel rude telling people I can’t go to something. Could you pass along some info on how to do that in a nice way?
I would have to say:
1. Change / Transition
(expecially at a new church…difficult to figure out my specific role and place. I formally worked as an admin. asst. to a pastor and my role was so clearly defined. Being a PW is so much more open…which can be great and yet often difficult to navigate)
2. Relationships/Friendships
Making genuine friendships w/o it being about ministry
3. Spiritual Growth
Handling Difficult Situations & People would be for sure at the top of my list…
also: fundraising (our ministry runs entirely on donations)
leading through challenges and uncertainty
I don’t even think I can list three – they all seem to resonate right now! And I really agree with Christi said about not being able to resolve situations and being left feeling resentful toward certain people – it has hurt me, only through what my hubby tells me, and then I have no resolution except forgiving in my own mind and letting God forgive any wrong I’ve said/done/thought. Hard stuff.
1. Expectations
2. Handling difficult people/situations
3. Time/Schedule/Spiritual Growth…..I know I am cheating here too. But I find it difficult when our husbands have the benefit of study while they are at work and so I often put it off during the busy day and then the time has slipped away from me and my hubby has already done his personal time, and so I am a slacker and just want to veg w/ him & have family time and ignore my personal time…..Does anyone else do this ever? Not sure this was confession time. Oops–oh well I just did.