Running on Empty
There are seasons in leadership when the hardest thing you will manage is not your business… It’s life itself.
At some point, every senior leader faces a moment where life doesn’t just interrupt the work – it overwhelms it.
Life happens.
Major events in the lives of people close to us. Sometimes our own. Events that demand incredible time, energy, and gut-wrenching navigation of uncharted waters.
But…you still have a business to run.
Employees, clients, their families, and more all depend on it. On you.
As we all know, the world doesn’t slow down for the potholes and bridge outages in our personal lives.
So what do we do?
How does a leader show up for an organization when they can barely catch their breath? How do we serve the immediate needs of our situation well while tending to the needs of the people in our personal lives who rely on us?
There are no clean, definitive answers in this space. No polished framework that magically removes the weight.
But it is worth thinking about…because these seasons will come.
Preferably we think about and plan for them in advance. Realistically, most of us will be forced to think about them in the middle of the storm.
Here are a few anchors for us to consider:
Breathe
Our bodies are weird. When we need oxygen the most – when our nervous system is overloaded – we tend to shorten our breath. Shallow breathing fuels anxiety. Deep breathing begins to calm it. This beginning step may feel insignificant. It’s not.
Sometimes the first act of leadership in a crisis is simply regaining control of yourself.
Pray
A natural extension of slowing the body is quieting the soul. In moments where the future feels uncertain and the path forward is unclear, we have the opportunity to reconnect with the One who sees what we cannot.
Be still, and know that I am God. – Psalm 46:10
Stillness is not weakness. It is a recognition of our ultimate dependence on the Father’s care.
Phone a Friend
Even the strongest leaders are not designed to carry life alone. Trusted confidants matter. People who will listen, care, pray, and simply be present. They likely won’t have answers. That’s not their role.
Their presence reminds us that we are not isolated, even when the weight is very personal.
Seek Professional Help
Wisdom is knowing when a situation exceeds your personal experience and ability to navigate. Whether the challenge is physical, emotional, mental, relational, or spiritual, there are people who have dedicated their lives to helping others navigate these exact moments.
Leaders who seek help are not weak. They are wise enough to leverage expertise when it matters most.
Be Where Your Feet Are
Crisis has a way of pulling our minds into the future…into what-ifs, worst-case scenarios, and outcomes we cannot control. But leadership in these moments is often found in the here-and-now. In being fully present so you can handle what is in front of you in that moment. Have the conversation that needs to be had. Take the next step that is clear. Sit in the moment that requires your attention.
God is already in tomorrow. You are needed here. Today.
Trust Your Team
You have invested time, energy, and resources into building your team. Now is when that investment is tested. Will they do everything exactly the way you would? No. Will they make some decisions differently? Yes. That’s part of the process. Empowering your team in these moments does two things. It allows you the margin to deal with what matters most right now, and it develops them in ways that cannot happen when you are always present.
What feels like a concession in the moment may become a catalyst for growth in the long run.
Communicate with Clarity
Your team does not need every detail, but they do need direction. Let them know what they can expect from you – and what they cannot – for a season. Clarity reduces confusion. It also builds trust.
Strong leaders do not disappear in crisis. They communicate appropriately through it.
Lower the Bar…Strategically
This is not the season for perfection. Identify what truly matters right now – as well as what doesn’t. Not everything carries equal weight.
Wise leaders adjust expectations without abandoning responsibility.
Protect Your Energy Ruthlessly
You will not have your normal capacity. Guard it. Limit unnecessary meetings. Say no where you need to.
Preserve energy for the decisions and relationships that matter most.
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Tough seasons like this reveal something important. For all the control we think we have as leaders, life has a way of reminding us that we are still human.
Limited. Finite. Dependent.
I don’t believe that’s a flaw in the system. More likely, it’s part of the design.
Because in these moments, leadership shifts. It becomes less about driving outcomes and more about stewarding ourselves, our relationships, and our responsibilities with honesty and humility. As humans in crisis.
You may not lead at your usual pace.
You may not perform at your normal level.
But you can still lead well.
One breath at a time.
One decision at a time.
One step at a time.
And when the storm passes – and it will – you may find that both you and your team are stronger, more resilient, and more prepared for whatever comes next.
Blessings to you, my friends!
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This Week’s Resource Recommendation(s):
"Walking with God through Pain and Suffering"
- Timothy Keller
From Amazon: The question of why God would allow pain and suffering in the world has vexed believers and nonbelievers for millennia. Timothy Keller, whose books have sold millions of copies to both religious and secular readers, takes on this enduring issue and shows that there is meaning and reason behind our pain and suffering, making a forceful and ground-breaking case that this essential part of the human experience can be overcome only by understanding our relationship with God.
As the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, Timothy Keller is known for his unique insights into religion and culture. Keller's series of books has guided countless readers in their spiritual journeys. Walking with God through Pain and Suffering uses biblical wisdom and personal stories of overcoming adversity to bring a much-needed, fresh viewpoint to this important issue.
"Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy"
- Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant
From Amazon: After the sudden death of her husband, Sheryl Sandberg felt certain that she and her children would never feel pure joy again. “I was in ‘the void,’” she writes, “a vast emptiness that fills your heart and lungs and restricts your ability to think or even breathe.” Her friend Adam Grant, a psychologist at Wharton, told her there are concrete steps people can take to recover and rebound from life-shattering experiences. We are not born with a fixed amount of resilience. It is a muscle that everyone can build.
Option B combines Sheryl’s personal insights with Adam’s eye-opening research on finding strength in the face of adversity. Beginning with the gut-wrenching moment when she finds her husband, Dave Goldberg, collapsed on a gym floor, Sheryl opens up her heart—and her journal—to describe the acute grief and isolation she felt in the wake of his death. But Option B goes beyond Sheryl’s loss to explore how a broad range of people have overcome hardships including illness, job loss, sexual assault, natural disasters, and the violence of war. Their stories reveal the capacity of the human spirit to persevere . . . and to rediscover joy.
Resilience comes from deep within us and from support outside us. Even after the most devastating events, it is possible to grow by finding deeper meaning and gaining greater appreciation in our lives. Option B illuminates how to help others in crisis, develop compassion for ourselves, raise strong children, and create resilient families, communities, and workplaces. Many of these lessons can be applied to everyday struggles, allowing us to brave whatever lies ahead. Two weeks after losing her husband, Sheryl was preparing for a father-child activity. “I want Dave,” she cried. Her friend replied, “Option A is not available,” and then promised to help her make the most of Option B.
We all live some form of Option B. This book will help us all make the most of it.
MMS 26-13
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