What bad habits are you trying to break? Maybe you want to stop eating highly processed food. Maybe you want to break the pattern of doom scrolling on your mobile devices. Or maybe this is the year you plan to actually go to the gym.
On a personal level, bad habits can get in the way of becoming the person you want to be. When you’re a leader, however, bad habits can have a negative effect on the organizations you serve.
When we persist in bad leadership habits, such as undercommunicating, avoiding difficult conversations or shifting blame, we can create a culture that fosters deep mistrust and low motivation — and for the highly relational work that churches do, trust and motivation are two organizational attributes that must always remain high.
One way to minimize the grip of bad habits is to invest time, energy, effort and prayer into the cultivation of healthier ones. For example, to be a more empathetic leader, practice active listening. Be sure you aren’t distracted by other tasks when you’re talking to someone. Try not to interrupt the speaker, and make eye contact.
Because it can be challenging to start new habits, it’s essential to know why you want to change. Your effort is not likely to progress in a straight line. Knowing why you want to make the change will give you the motivation to start over. You may want to delegate some of your tasks so you can spend more of your sabbath time fully focused on your family and your soul instead of worrying about administrative details. You may want to prioritize and plan better so you can be more intentional about setting aside time to travel.
No leader is perfect, but when we cultivate good habits, we will discover more faithful and fruitful ways to live out God’s call on our lives. What healthy habits will you develop this year?
Resources
Listening with our bodies for God’s voice
In a culture that often views decisions made with the head as most reliable, what insights might our bodies provide in the process of discerning God’s will?
By Katie Bracy
Finding abundance in our connection with God and one another
It is especially important in difficult times to understand what an authentically abundant life is and to engage in spiritual practices to sustain it, writes a psychologist who focuses on faith and mental health.
By Jessica Young Brown
Jazz doesn’t just teach leaders the importance of improvisation. It also teaches the necessity of imitation
Imitation lays the foundation for improvisation, a lesson for leadership as well as for music.
By L. Roger Owens
Baking bread, breaking bread, and the lessons for pastors in both
Successful bread dough requires a delicate balance between tension and rest, and so do faith communities, explains a baker and writer.
By Kendall VandersliceWhen starting new habits, don’t aim for perfection. Aim for progress and grace.
Before you go
As I reflect on my own leadership journey, I’m reminded that transforming habits isn’t about achieving perfection. It’s about progress and grace.
This year, I’m committing to the practice of investing in more one-on-one time with staff and newer members. Relationships are important to me, and it’s impossible to build strong relationships without spending time with people. I’m also working to establish better rhythms for play and recreation; for instance, I love being in and on the water, but that won’t happen unless I make it a habit.
The truth is our congregations don’t need flawless leaders — they need authentic ones who are willing to grow alongside them. As we step into this new year, let’s extend to ourselves the same compassion and patience we so readily offer others. What small, sustainable change might God be inviting you to embrace today? I’d love to hear about the habits you’re cultivating in your own life and ministry.
You can always reach me and the Alban Weekly team at alban@duke.edu. Until next week, keep leading!
Prince R. Rivers
Editor, Alban at Duke Divinity