This week I've been exploring some thoughts on rest. Here is a final one: You might actually have to work harder before you can truly rest. Here are a few things that you can do that will require extra work now but will allow you to rest more (as well as have many other positive benefits) later:
- Train other people -We have to develop people around us. If everything has to be done by you, you will limit the potential of whatever you lead, frustrate others around you and wear yourself out. Many don't take the time to train others because it is quicker to do a task yourself. True, in the short term but false and foolish in the long run.
- Delegate -Once someone has been properly trained you have to actually releases tasks/assignments/responsibility/authority to them. Letting go can be very challenging internally, but for their sake, your sake and the sake of the organization, you have to do it!
- Systematize -If things can't function well in your absence you are a poor leader. You may be a good worker, but not a good leader. The sign of a good leader is how things run when you are NOT there. So you need to take the time, energy and thought to create understandable, executable systems that function as intended, and make sure everyone understands and follows the system.
Sidebar on this: You don't have to create your own systems from scratch. For example, if you want a good assimilation system, check out Nelson Searcy's. If you want a good New Believer system check out Bob Franquiz's. And if you want a great accounting system, check out what I offer.
The bottom line is that many pastors aren't ready to really rest because they haven't done the hard work it takes to be able to do it. Once you have, you are ready to rest because you'll be fully confident that everything is going to be just fine without you. So get out of town, travel, play, rest, have a good time. You've worked hard, and you deserve it!
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