How is the Principal, Executive Director, or Pastor cared for in these challenging times?
“Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Over the past couple of decades, the number of Christian Senior leaders who have burned out, been dismissed, or walked away from their leadership positions is astronomical. Resultantly, churches are having trouble finding pastors, principal vacancies are 'band-aided' or left unfilled, and charities are thrusting the unprepared into positions of leadership when they are simply not ready. It begs the question: "How can we properly care for Senior Leaders?" The wisdom of good governance has something to say to this issue.
A significant part of the challenge comes from a widespread but misguided view of governance in our time. Policy Governance (often called the Carver Model, or simply a “Governing Board”) begins with the posture: “We must give the Senior Leader space to lead without interference.” The intention is to avoid micromanagement and respect the leader’s directive role. Yet in practice, this often results in leadership isolation. Instead of feeling bolstered by a supportive structure and system, senior leaders feel left without the encouragement and reinforcement they need. The result is neglect rather than nurture.
So here are three ways to nurture your leader.
1. Insist and follow through on regular Board Chair & Senior Leader Check-ins: At a minimum, held every month, these get-togethers should feel like two friends sitting around a coffee table to 'shoot the breeze.' Yes, you have important work to accomplish, so make it part of your informal conversational agenda. Plan your agendas…but most importantly, enjoy each other's company, share your lives, and pray for one another. Such personable exchanges build a foundation of trust. You'll need this when times get tough.
2. Ensure there is space on the board agenda for the Senior Leader to convey joys and challenges: In secular terms, this is often called a 'Roundtable Reflection' but in alignment with Christian sensitivities, I'd say it's more like a 'Spiritual Pulse Check' or 'Sacred Pause.' – sensing how God is forming and shaping the most senior person overseeing God's work in ministry – how they are doing. It doesn't have to happen every month, formally speaking, but regularly enough on the agenda that your Principal, Pastor, or Executive Director knows that they are the centre of attention for care, and that it is well-intended.
3. Empower other responsible staff or leaders to take on roles often associated with the Senior Leader: What we're talking about here is 'sharing the load.' Every leadership activity does not have to be done by the Senior Leader, but can be distributed to others. Those others can report to the board or through the Senior leader to the board about those responsibilities, for sure. But by distributing key leadership functions, you create a healthy space for the Senior Leader. You don't automatically assume he/she is the ongoing place where all work, over time, is piled on. This not only gives space for the Senior Leader to concentrate on the truly most important tasks, but also acts as a succession planning strategy for other individuals to work into positions of greater authority.
4. A bonus: Think about installing a Leadership Care Committee (LCC) on the board as a sub-committee: Leadership Care is important enough that you may wish to assign a board member, or three, to the role of ensuring the health and well-being of all staff, even beyond the Pastor, Principal, or Executive Director. Such a committee and its functions are often part of the board's HR sub-committee, but many Christian charities don't have one of those. So build an LCC. Their function: ongoing care both formally (e.g. positive and formal annual evaluations) and informally (e.g. cards and ongoing prayer).
All of these suggestions are meant to function in a way that would feel like it is care among equals – or, said theologically, care from amongst a 'priesthood of believers.' As such, it demonstrates that the board and senior leader are in the trenches together. Christian organizations have an advantage in that way; we can more easily adapt away from a hierarchical structure that tends to lead to further isolation of those "at the top."
And when all of these don't work and the board requires further organizational support? Well, Shepherd has successfully led mediation between parties as a posture of intentional care toward health.
SHEPHERD'S SPOTLIGHT: International Ministries
When organizations have international reach, Shepherd has the delight to see and support the work that God is doing across the globe. As such, we can attest to the hymn lyrics: 'He's got the whole world in His hands" despite what we see in the nightly news.
Serving in Europe, Central America, and across Western, Eastern, and Southern Africa – and, through our clients, extending into four continents – has provided an incredible window into the work of God. Shepherd has been grateful for the privilege of serving in this way.
After all, it's not just Western organizations that need strategic planning, mediation, board governance training, coaching, or other forms of leadership support. God's people across the world can benefit from sound biblical wisdom in regard to their ministry. Don't hesitate to reach out to Shepherd Consulting. We can provide support online or in-person to our international brothers and sisters in ways that will affirm their cultural approaches and build them up in leadership manners appropriate for their context.
Rev Dr Darren Roorda (Founder and Principal Consultant) has served in Non-Profit Leadership for over 23 years.
His roles as Executive Director, International Liaison, Project Manager, Pastor, and even Official Lobbyist have helped hone his education in Leadership, Governance, and Theology.
D. Min., Pro Dir, Partner of The Alliance for Board Effectiveness. Professional Member of the Canadian Centre for Christian Charities
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email: info@shepherdconsulting.ca
