Do Art?

One of the great dangers of leadership is the loss of creativity and fun. The task –because we take on too much or because we get our eye off “our ball’ – overwhelms us and steals the time that once was a part of our success.

The loss of passion and joy in the work of our Lord is terrible. Perhaps our common enemy’s greatest strategy is to trick people into building tyrannies of demands and then get leaders to be insecure or too performance oriented to stop the madness. Jesus understood the demands of the people and the need for God. Not only did he have consistent times of rest and prayer, but we see many examples of him providing the same for his leaders.

“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

Great leaders are indeed benevolent leaders looking out for the welfare and best of those they lead and train. Leaders need rest and more of a life than the office, the sale, the meeting, the church, the sermon or the training. When is the last time that you felt truly rested? What makes life just so, ‘I forgot that there was even stress’? Where is it that you don’t talk about work, ministry or partnerships? Is it gardening, a dinner club, a date, movies, golf, carpentry, painting or writing? Is it rock climbing, basketball or your porch? A good book?

Leaders are driven people, but the very thing that makes them successful is the very thing that will kill them. Before we were selected to lead, before we took over, we lived a life that prepared us to lead. I will bet anything it was less hectic, but even if it isn’t, listen closely.

1. You will never relax until you leave the office. Set a time to leave work and go home. Don’t take work home! You can do it. The work will never be done. Retrain your expectations and those of others. Prepare ahead of time. Start saying “No” to new things until you get caught up. No matter what – pick an ending time and make it law.
2. Don’t talk about work at meals or any other place than at work. Don’t each lunch over work. Don’t have the office staff over and talk over barbeque and beer. The Italians have this worked out with 2 hour relaxing lunches that do not include (it is taboo) any business talk. The siesta is not just a Latin blessing, but a blessing to all who will take part.
3. Take at least one complete day off – not 8 hours – 24 hours. This drove me nuts at first, but now when that day comes – I guard it. I love it. I am addicted, and I am a better leader for the other days. Do your chores and help your family, but leave a good part of the day for that “one thing” that makes you forget it all. If you can find a way for that “one thing” to happen with or at the same place that your loved ones live – you will be better.
4. After hours – spend time with those you love, and if you don’t love someone – fall in love. Go visit kids at the hospital or old people. Love is all about giving. Go to dinner, leave the stupid TV that steals your brain, go for a walk, play basketball, or get ice cream. If you have trouble giving after work because you are tired, accept that you are looking stupid as you let life pass you by. Do you really want to give everything that is good in you to people you make money with instead of giving to those you make love with?
5. Take your vacations religiously. The business deal will wait, and if someone steals your job, then at least you got a vacation and fun while they did it. Stop worrying about success while your heart shrivels.
6. If your kids or family are involved in so much that you never sit at home or don’t have time to do anything but “go here and there,” then quit. Just start quitting. Neither you nor your family members have to do 8 sports and competition ball in order to be happy and successful. Dance is not required for being well balanced. You will be hopelessly empty if your life is a tyranny of demands even when you are not leading.

The point here is that you will never be creative and inspired to new leadership unless you have some dead time where your brain can just rest. The fitness craze knows that you can’t work a muscle every day and get success. The salesman knows that you can’t nag a customer and have a long-term relationship. The farmer knows that fields must rest if they are to produce. The construction worker knows that concrete must be cured. Everyone knows it. Rest is needed.

You and I are no different. If we allow the tyranny of the urgent and demanding to steal the very passion, vision and strength that made us leaders – then we will not be leaders but only people trying to survive and play like leaders. When is the last time you doodled, painted, swung, swam, ran or read a great book? If you want to be a great leader – you will not abandon your job, but you will get rest and be wise. All of nature rests and needs rest.

Go home, relax, do something fun, rest, eat, find happiness and then lead from a passion and strength – guaranteed, your people at home and work will be happier.