Leader ecology

White Book provision

Leader ecology - care for balance and inner health. A leader needs harmony between the spiritual, emotional and physical spheres. Responsible leadership involves caring for one's own boundaries, rest and a healthy lifestyle, which also means balance between family life, work and commitment to service.

Leader overload

The White Book preamble names leader overload as one of the main challenges facing communities today. Community leaders usually serve alongside a job and family life, and the needs of those they serve have no natural limits. Without conscious care this leads to burnout.

The World Health Organization's ICD-11 describes burn-out as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It has three dimensions: energy depletion, mental distance or cynicism towards the job, and reduced professional efficacy. Christina Maslach's research shows that it is fostered by, among other things, work overload, lack of control, insufficient reward and value conflicts.

Biblical roots

• Sabbath - the rhythm of work and rest is written into the order of creation (Gen 2:2-3; Exod 20:8-11).
• Jethro and Moses - Moses' father-in-law warns him that judging the people alone from morning to evening will wear out both him and the people, and advises sharing responsibility (Exod 18:13-27). It is the classic text on delegation and team leadership.
• Jesus invites the disciples after intense work: “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31).

Dimensions of leader ecology

Good practices

• A planned day of rest and holidays that are really holidays.
• Clear boundaries of availability (e.g. hours when the leader does not take community calls).
• Mentoring and spiritual accompaniment - someone from outside who sees more.
• Sharing responsibility in a team instead of a single-leader model.
• A periodic review of service that also covers the leader's workload.

See also self-leadership.