6 Ways to Grow as a Leader During Quarantine

Whether life has slowed down or gotten even crazier since the COVID-19 quarantining began, you can use this unique season of ministry to grow as a leader if you…

1. Make time to REST. Do this one first, and if you only pick one thing, let it be this one! As a ministry leader, your schedule is always go-go-go, so take advantage of this slower pace of life that we’ve all been forced into by social distancing and stay-at-home orders. Don’t feel pressure to add something to your plate just because your normal schedule looks different or feels smaller, and don’t let someone else’s approach to online ministry make you feel guilty for the valuable way you’re serving your flock. Repeat after me: It’s OK if productivity looks different in this season. Enjoying a time of rest will help you reflect, recharge, and refresh so you can be the best leader you can be now and in the months to come.
2. Learn something new. Leaders are learners, and even if what you learn has nothing to do with ministry, it still benefits your brain and your leadership! Attend an online conference. Watch a YouTube video about learning how to play guitar. Find some new recipes to test (we just made this tasty one) or try your hand at soap-making. Learn a Tik Tok dance as a family or even challenge your skills with a new video game.
3. Build relationships. When we’re in the middle of a Sunday morning or Wednesday night, it can be difficult to stop and talk with our volunteers, kids, or families. But now that our programming has moved online, you can use some of your hours to build relationships with the people you serve. Set up FaceTime calls or Zoom meetings with individual families, and don’t forget about your volunteers! This is the perfect opportunity to check in on them and have a conversation when you’re not thinking about how you need them to fill in this Sunday in the back of your mind. At the very least, you can send them a little snail mail to let them know you’re thinking of them!
4. Read. You know that leadership book that’s been sitting on your shelf? Now’s your chance to read it! Use the time you would spend commuting to and from the church each day to read, even if it’s just 10 minutes. Need a book recommendation? Here’s my 2020 reading list!
5. Exercise. I don’t know about you, but exercise is always the first thing I take out of my schedule when life and ministry get busy. As we’re working hard to take care of the families we serve, we can make time to take care of ourselves too. Go on a walk around the neighborhood with your family. Turn up the music really loud and have a dance party with your kids. Find a workout that coordinates with your favorite TV show. Just do something to get active! Your body and your brain will benefit from it. (I’m working to strengthen my post-baby body using Sweat – and right now during quarantines, they’re offering the first month for free!)
6. Check your spiritual health. We’re so often focused on the spiritual growth of others that we overlook our own. On this post, we shared a free Spiritual Growth Assessment from LifeWay to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to spiritual development.

Whether you do all 6 of these things or just 1 (you’ve got permission to just do #1), know that I’m praying for your heart, your family, your leadership, and your ministry during this crazy time. Want to see more ministry resources for this COVID-19 season? Check them out here.