Burnout is something most leaders are familiar with as a concept, and probably in reality, but they likely haven’t thought through it very deeply. Where does it come from? What causes it? Am I experiencing it right now? How can I avoid it? All these are questions leaders should be asking because burnout will kill their effectiveness. Often leaders overlook burnout because it seems like a necessary bi-product of how much responsibility they carry. In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast I sit down with Todd Adkins and Eric Geiger to talk through this. We ask the following questions.

* How prevalent is burnout among leaders?

* Is it more prevalent in church leadership than in other organizations? Why or why not?

* What are some signs of burnout?

* What are practical things leaders can do to avoid burnout?

* What are ways organizations can create a culture that prevents burnout?

BEST QUOTES

“Most leaders have gone through a season of feeling burned out. They have pushed too hard for too long.”

“Getting to burnout is not good leadership; it’s actually poor self-leadership.”

“Burnout usually is a slow burn; it’s not a big explosion.”

“Burnout is the compound effect of neglecting your soul, neglecting your body, neglecting your health over a period of time.”

“Anything that’s not of faith is sin.”

“When you understand the weight of what it is to be a pastor, to be a church leader, the burden is just enormous.”

“The clock can never really shut off for a church leader.”

“A driven church leader can deceive himself that his ambition is all holy.”

“When your job is ministry and your life is ministry it never stops and it never turns off.”

“All work is spiritual when offered as an offering to the Lord.”

“I don’t understand people who are living for the weekend.”

“Listen to your body. There are physical signs of burnout.”

“If whatever time you rest is leaving you less and less rested you are quickly approaching burnout.”

“Schedule margin and stick to it.”

“Invite some people into your life who are going to speak truth into your life.”

“Learn the rhythms of your work.”

“Leaders need to take care of themselves physically.”

“Metabolism, I miss you.”

“Making time to read makes you feel less busy.”

“If your church doesn’t give your pastor a sabbatical you need to repent.”

“Nobody should feel guilty for putting in a vacation request or going on vacation.”

“Laziness is idolatry and so is workaholism.”

“Nobody gets fired for developing a bunch of rock stars around them.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURECES

Why Churches Should Give Pastors Sabbaticals

8 Ways to Help Your Pastor Have a Good Vacation

7 Ways to Prevent Pastor Burnout