When it comes to executing a Sunday experience, having a capable and confident tech director is one of the most critical leadership positions that has to be filled.
However, other than the role of senior pastor, probably no role deals with the prospect of burnout quite like a TD either.
It’s hard to face the gauntlet of expectations every week: being the first one there, last one to leave, constant pressure for everything to be perfect, under-appreciated, only recognized when something goes wrong, and the list goes on.
While some of those stereotypes may not be true in all churches, for many TDs they are a reality--and that pressure at times can build into an almost unbearable load from which the only escape seems to be just to walk away.
The idea of burnout is often a weapon used by Satan to undermine our purpose and calling and turn us away from serving in the very role that we may have been created to fill.
The idea of burnout is often a weapon used by Satan to undermine our purpose and calling and turn us away from serving in the very role that we may have been created to fill.
In the book “Second in Command” by Dutch Sheets and Chris Jackson, the authors confront this exact notion. They note, “[Satan] probably can’t quench your leadership drive, so he’ll get behind you and push you [to do more]…He’s just as happy with burnout as he is adultery. If he can’t get you to renounce God, he’ll get you to burn out in the service of God.”
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So, how can we take a stand against this issue and reset our hearts and our focus so that we’re serving effectively? I feel there are three main action steps we can undertake:
1-Understand our purpose.
Many times, what leads to burnout isn’t working long hours on something. It’s working long hours on something that we don’t know if it matters or makes a difference.
Vision, purpose, and calling are the fuels that help carry us through the seasons of busyness and pressure. When we understand the value of our role and the purpose behind our actions, it makes the hard work and long hours more bearable.
It’s critical to surround ourselves with a network of support and encouragement that can help pour into us and support us through difficult seasons. People that can remind us of our divine calling into ministry and can help speak positive promises in our lives when the workload seems overwhelming. Those are the people that help us not quit when we face challenges because they help reinforce the gifts that God has placed inside us.
Whether these people are friends, accountability partners, or people in positions of authority in our lives, we all need people who can serve as our daily encouragers and help us regain the focus on why we are doing what we are doing.
2-Replenish what’s lost.
Ministry is all about serving out of the overflow. And I can’t give what I don’t have.
If I’m struggling with joy, patience, and grace as I work with my volunteers or even other leaders at my church, chances are that’s a sign that my soul is depleted and unhealthy.
It’s critical that I prioritize time to keep myself healthy spiritually, physically, and emotionally.
There’s a reason why prioritizing the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments. If we can’t keep ourselves rested and spiritually healthy, everything around us will end up suffering as a result.
Even though we are “in” a service perhaps multiple times on a weekend, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re retaining anything or actually growing spiritually. I must prioritize additional time each week to worship, pray, and read the Word. If I’m not connected with the ultimate source of Life, then I end up going through the motions each Sunday based strictly on how much physical energy I have, and I’m not able to take advantage of the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.
But beyond just keeping ourselves spiritually healthy, we have to prioritize our own bodies. It’s OK to be selfish!
If I’m not sleeping or eating well, or getting rejuvenated by hobbies or social relationships, then my body and emotions will be so empty and unfulfilled that showing up on a Sunday is just another soul-less task I have to drudge through. It’s like being perpetually “hangry”!
I MUST keep myself healthy. After all, if I’m leading a team, I need to model the behavior that I want my team to follow. And it’s a sobering question to ask whether I want my team living the exact lifestyle I’m living.
3-Open up healthy lines of communication.
Too often, we TDs willingly embrace the role of martyr or Lone Ranger, carrying all sorts of weight and burdens that we were never designed to carry. And we do it solely because of our hesitation or unwillingness to bring others into the process with us.
Sometimes we see it as a sign of weakness by asking for help, or as a “badge of courage” when we can talk about how much we do and how long we work.
The reality is that the best leaders are the ones who are wise enough to know when to call in reinforcements.
The reality is that the best leaders are the ones who are wise enough to know when to call in reinforcements.
It takes true wisdom and humility (modeled by a healthy leader) to ask others for help, admit weaknesses, and seek feedback, and these are all critical parts of the process of avoiding burnout.
When seasons are busy, I should jump at the chance to bring others into the process, because doing so not only lightens my load, but it may help invigorate someone else and help them get recharged or excited by doing something they know makes a difference.
Seeking feedback is also critical. Do I have people around me that I allow to speak into my life when they see unhealthy habits and behaviors? We all have blind spots, and it’s crucial that I have people around me who have been given the freedom to help me know when I’m unknowingly doing something that needs to change, whether it’s an action, attitude, or response.
Resetting priorities and helping triage them during times of chaos can help bring calm to the storm....
Sometimes, the best line of communication needs to be strictly with the person in direct authority over us. I may be so busy doing things that I deem are important, when a conversation with my boss may bring clarity and focus to the things that I actually need to be doing instead. Resetting priorities and helping triage them during times of chaos can help bring calm to the storm; it not only helps thin out my load, but now I have the peace and reassurance that my boss has set the priorities, meaning that I know I’m focused on things he or she sees as important.
We will all go through seasons of busyness of varying degrees, and if our churches are healthy and thriving, those should be both expected and welcomed. Just because things get busy doesn’t mean that they should be overwhelming. And just because there are high expectations doesn’t mean that we have to be crippled by them.
When we surround ourselves with the right people, communicate, reconnect with our purpose, and keep ourselves healthy, we unlock the door to unlimited potential for ourselves, our teams, and our church.
