As we enter the holiday season, christian leaders and their teams often face a unique kind of pressure that builds up with each passing week. The rhythm of ministry life (end-of-year services, holiday events, volunteer recruitment, and family responsibilities) can be incredibly draining, creating a period we not-so-affectionately call, "Death by Church".
For many, these final weeks of the year demand an endless to-do list and very little time for reflection or restoration.
Amidst the hustle, it's easy to overlook a vital element: soul health.
We often are deeply focused on the souls we can reach during the holidays. But what of the souls of the very team making it all happen?
For leaders, leading for/from soul health is crucial. Unlike physical or mental health, soul health speaks to the deeper parts of ourselves that connect to purpose, peace, and resilience.
When soul health is depleted, it shows up as burnout, cynicism, and disconnection. And because "as the leader goes, so goes the team," it’s essential that leaders prioritize both their own soul health and that of their staff.
Soul health can’t be improved by more catered lunches, inspirational speeches about sacrificial service and impact, or any “quick fixes” to keep performing. Soul health is deep, it’s real, and it's what’s most at stake when our giving continues but our capacity to receive anything is gone.
Let's skip "Death by Church" this year and pave a new way forward for these deeply committed leaders and volunteers we serve alongside.
Ready for it?
Here’s how you, as a leader, can bring some intentionality to this essential area of soul health, both for you and those you care for.
Start with Honest Reflection
Before leading your team, take time to evaluate your own soul health. Ask yourself: Am I leading from a place of peace and purpose, or simply pushing through the demands of the season? Your team takes its cues from you, so your reflection and action will be key to your team's well being too.
Begin by reflecting on your own rhythms. How are your meetings, communication style, and expectations affecting not just your soul but also the well-being of your team?
Taking a moment to reset your own focus/gaze upon God will allow you to lead with greater intention/wholeness. When you model healthy practices, it empowers your team to do the same, creating a foundation for everyone to navigate this busy season with resilience and purpose.
Open Up the Conversation
Create space for your team to pause and reflect regularly. Start meetings with a short moment of silence or prayer to center the group, and encourage team members to share one word that captures how they’re feeling. These small pauses can help everyone reconnect with themselves and each other, making the team more resilient amidst the busyness.
Our team's current recommendation for these kinds of practices/prayers is Bill Simmon's new book, The Way of Interruption: Spiritual Practice for Organizational Life.
Thank us later!
During these times with your staff, be aware of telltale signs of exhaustion or withdrawal among your team members. Increased irritability, a lack of enthusiasm, or signs of physical fatigue may be indicators that someone is struggling.
Instead of assuming they’ll bounce back, reach out and offer support, perhaps by redistributing some tasks or asking what they need to do this season sustainably. Although it’s a common assumption that everyone has their support and practices in place to stay soul-healthy, it's typically unfounded.
That’s where leaders can actually make a difference in their team’s soul health: dropping the assumption and asking, “how is my team, and what kind of support do they need to flourish personally and professionally?
Promote Sustainability
Rather than driving your team to constant output (you might get the job done but lose the team), encourage sustainable rhythms of work and rest to support long-term well-being. Make it to new years still alive and well!
Everyone should be able to step into January accomplished but not crispy, burned out, or filled with a sense of dread. To achieve this, consider setting firm boundaries around after-hours communication and ensuring that every team member can take a full day off each week. Sabbath and rest can't just be deleted for the next two months.
Leaders who adopt a “churn and burn” mindset, pushing staff for one intense but unsustainable year, may see great results but lose valuable people to exhaustion and burnout.
In contrast, leaders who prioritize sustainable rhythms equip their teams to flourish over the long haul, fostering deeper engagement, loyalty, and resilience.
Ultimately, you’ll achieve a more enduring impact when your people are grounded, energized, and equipped with rhythms that sustain their best work and soul health over time.
If you're looking to set your team up for success, look into signing them up for our LeadWell Rhythms membership.
Assess Your Team Before Things Ramp Up
This holiday season, to help leaders like you to care for their teams, Soul Care is offering a limited number of churches/organizations the opportunity to receive the Soul Health Assessment for their teams, free of charge.
That means your entire group can take part in an insightful organizational snapshot that reveals the true state of soul health across your staff.
How could your team (and yourself) be responding to statements like:
"I have a deep relationship with God."
"I have taken ownership of my soul health."
"I am utilizing my gifting/strengths well."
"I feel burnt out."
You’ll receive insight into:
- Levels of burnout, exhaustion, and flourishing
- Spiritual, emotional, and mental health of your people
- How connected your team feels to God, one another, and their leaders
- Trust and relational dynamics within your organization
The Soul Health Assessment has been validated to measure the realities that most affect long-term health and effectiveness. You’ll gain a clear picture of where your team is thriving—and where attention is most needed.
Request a Team Soul Health Assessment
“One of our strategic initiatives is the spiritual health of our staff. As leaders who are followers of Christ, we understand that we teach what we know, but reproduce who we are.
We had all our director-level leaders take the Soul Health Assessment and reviewed the results collectively. After sharing the results, we had powerful conversations on where we are, where we want to go, and most importantly…who we want to be. Based on that discussion, we have designed a 12-month plan to equip and support the soul health of those leaders.” - Ted Ancelet, Senior Chaplain, Bethany International