Ministry is one of those iceberg jobs. It looks appealing on the surface. Study the Word, have coffee with people, speak on Sunday… that’s the life! But under the surface the job is three times as big. The parts that aren’t seen include the many hats a pastor wears that they weren’t necessarily trained for: administrator, manager, accountant, counselor, arbitrator… the list goes on. No wonder burnout in ministry is so common!

Burnout Triggers

There are many red flags for burnout but here are three that are common. Addressing these as they surface can act as an important safeguard for leaders and their ministries.

1. Misalignment of expectations and calling

Said one pastor a few years into his career, “Ministry is harder than I ever imagined.” His expectations of the job did not fit with the realities of the job. The skills he thought he’d be using weren’t the ones he found himself having to rely on on a daily basis—and they didn’t alight with his gifts. He began questioning his calling: “If God wanted me to do this, he would have paved the way. Maybe I am not supposed to be here.” 

2. Oversized workload and time management

In ministry, it can feel like there is never enough time and always way too much work. People in the congregation seem to expect you to be able to do it all, but the ministry can start taking a toll on physical, emotional, mental, and family health. No one likes being put in a position where it seems like everyone is expecting more and you just don’t have enough time to do it all.  

3. Relational isolation

In a job surrounded by people, it’s amazing how isolated ministry leaders can feel. Handling frequent conflicts can lead to feeling alone. Often pastors feel they can’t have genuine relationships with people in their congregation for fear of appearing weak or flawed. Decision-making is also isolating, as is standing your ground when those decisions are contested. Yet it’s hard slogging through everything alone.  

7 Coaching Tips to Help Address Burnout

1. Confirm and affirm calling

When a leader is feeling like a fish out of water that may actually be the case! Take time to help them reflect on their passions, their gifting, why they got into ministry, and even the circumstances that led to their current position. If passion and gifting don’t match the current position you have found a pain point that needs attention. Sometimes the role itself can be shifted to align more with their gifts; sometimes they need a different role. 

Resources you may find helpful: Calling- Focused Ministry Coaching Guide and Storyboard (found on loganleadership.com)

2. Mine for expectations

Sometimes the disconnect is in what a leader thought the job was and what it really is. For example, seminaries prepare students well with theology and public speaking but not so well for the business or even the people side of things. Or maybe the leader is experiencing a bit of a bait and switch, like being hired into what appeared to be a healthy church but a slew of issues surfaced shortly after their start date. In cases of unmet expectations, clarifying what was expected and processing through the options to discover a mutually beneficial way forward can avoid burnout.  

Resources you may find helpful: Understanding Key Issues – FREE CCT DOWNLOAD

3. Make space

Whether self imposed or from those who they are serving, many leaders believe they have to do it all. If your client has to have the last word on sermons, worship set lists, children’s church curriculum, audio, visual, social media, and donuts… they are headed for disaster. Whether the issue is control or trying to live up to the expectations, you can help them learn to delegate. A great way to do this is to help them identify what only they can do and what drains their energy. Then you can help them brainstorm people with complimentary gifting so they can delegate with confidence. Helping leaders manage their time well and spend that time on tasks that give them life is a burnout buster!

Resources you may find helpful: Effective Delegation Coaching Guide (found on loganleadership.com)

4. Resource

Even if a leader knows what is needed they may not know how to get there or feel like what they need is outside of their possibility. Say they need to learn how to run the business side of things and think that a business degree is necessary to do so. You know better. As their coach you can help them narrow down the specific skills they need. Once you know what is necessary, you can either walk them through a coaching guide that addresses their need or connect them to a class, a mentor, a book, podcast, or website that will help. And you can do this in real time—as the needs arise. Resourcing your clients helps relieve stress, makes learning new skills manageable, and builds their confidence.  

Resources you may find helpful: The Leadership Difference*- This book focuses on the key leadership skills needed to be effective as a ministry leader. Skills and strategies like these will result in lightening the leader’s load, developing the skills of those they are leading, and getting the job done effectively. Another fantastic resource as you coach leaders is the Leadership Skills Guides. This downloadable resource (found on loganleadership.com) uses a coaching method to empower leaders in 37 essential leadership skills. Each guide includes a written introduction, teaching points, scripture passages and reflection, and discussion questions.

Be a trusted colleague

Leadership is lonely. It is impossible to please everyone. In ministry that is complicated by relationships because the people they are leading are also their friends and family, the people they do life with. As a coach you provide a sounding board from an equal—someone who sees and hears them and won’t be hurt by their decisions. You can help them anticipate obstacles and pushback, and works with them to prepare for them. You can help them think through the relational dynamics of working with the people you are serving and reaching. Together you can explore what they feel comfortable sharing and with whom so they can have authentic and meaningful friendships and working relationships. 

Resources you may find helpful: Powerful Coaching Questions – FREE CCT DOWNLOAD

Encouragement

Leaders always hear about what isn’t working but rarely about the many, many things they are doing right. As their coach, you have insight to their journey and can provide encouragement and celebration along the way. When they are bogged down by the nay-sayers and sticklers a little encouragement can go a long way in keeping a leader motivated and working toward their goals. 

Resources you may find helpful: Affirmation as the foundation of change- this 3 minute youtube video describes the power of encouragement.

*Amazon affiliate link

Photo by christopher lemercier on Unsplash

Cover Photo by Naassom Azevedo on Unsplash