Leaders, in particular, need to be encouraged. Unfortunately, our society is really good at telling someone they’re doing things wrong. But I love to tell another leader when somebody else has said they’re doing things well. That’s important for the health of a leader—as are a few other key responses and actions to keep leaders strong and positive.
This material was originally recorded as part of the Renovations Project. It has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
Use evaluation as a tool for encouragement
One of the best ways to encourage someone is to say, “Thank you for what you did, and I saw this happen [as a result].” For example: “You brought this person into the company, and this person is phenomenal. Thank you for what you’ve done.” And continue to do that—to observe and to communicate gratitude as a means of encouragement.
Additionally, I really believe in assessment. Performance evaluations should not be done to identify what a leader has done wrong, but to encourage that person. I had my board evaluate me; from that evaluation, I’ve now come up with seven presidential initiatives that I want to do. I learned from the evaluation that I’m going so fast that I haven’t built the trust I need to build with my staff and my faculty in the way that I really want to. They trust me, and they know I’m okay. But they’re a little worried about how fast I move sometimes. And so, now, before something happens, I make sure that when it’s rolled out, it’s rolled out in a certain way. The evaluation encouraged me and because of that, I’m now more effective as a president.
Therefore, encouragement includes assessment and evaluation. This isn’t to figure out what a person does wrong, but to really figure out what are the person’s strengths? What are you going to do in this particular climate, in this particular way? That kind of evaluation is powerful.
Evaluation shows that you really care about people, so people can see that you’re not just a boss but a person who cares about their wellbeing. I’m thankful that I’ve not just been an engineer and a professor and a psychologist and a pastor, but I’ve been an engineer, professor, psychologist, pastor, parent, and partner. You’ve got to nurture people, you’ve got to encourage them, and you’ve got to love them. And sometimes they love you back, sometimes they don’t. And that’s okay.
Be honest and listen to trusted people
If someone really wants to reimagine their ministry, I would recommend starting with accountability partners. Look at the fact that there’s some people who have been with you your entire career, and there are also people who are new to you. How can you have conversations with them about where you are? Sometimes we need to leave a ministry and move to something else. I never wanted to pastor. I left when I was a single senior pastor. I left to do doctor work. Because of that, I wound up on a staff with my wife. That was wonderful. I figured out what my gifts were: I’m a teacher in the team, and I’m the prophet in the team.
We can reimagine ourselves—or a ministry—by listening to those around us. My wife telling me that I needed to do something different has been one of the best things for me. She walked up to me and said, “You’re just unhappy now; this is not working, so do something different.” That was a gift, and I’ve given her that freedom to do that. She and I have talked a lot about that.
This is key with your mentors and with your mentees. Have those conversations about what your strengths and weaknesses are. The more you know that, the more you recognize it. I personally am not good in situations where people disrespect me. I had to figure out that’s a button that’s going to be pushed, and it’s going to happen probably for the rest of my life. Now when someone disrespects me, I simply go to my Tai Chi moves. I may be picturing some things happening, but I’m going to be chill about it, and I’m going to be restful about it.
Balance spiritual, mental, and physical health to succeed
One of the things that I tell leaders is to keep a sense of humor—learn to laugh at yourself, with yourself, at situations, and with others. We take it seriously, and it is serious because people’s souls are sometimes on the line. But when you have so many things to balance, it could easily be depressing. Stress will take you out. Leaders need to really consider what they can do to minimize that stress. Mental health is important; I’m not minimizing depression. Make sure to get some help—if it’s biological, get medicine, and if it’s psychological, get some counseling. But even in doing that, learn to laugh, learn to enjoy, and figure out what feeds your soul.
Additionally, I think spiritual disciplines are critical. Do devotions every day. Identify some writers and some material that feeds your soul. And develop and maintain good relationships. It’s important to have really good friends who you can call on when you’re in trouble.
Physical exercise is also critical. I think too many leaders don’t take care of the physical body. If you don’t feel good, you can’t do good. With exercise, everyone thinks you’ve got to get a trainer and have this routine and regimen, but research and data has said just 30 minutes a day of walking matters. What I like about walking or jogging is that it’s a time to get away from the work that you’re doing and just have that time with yourself.
Particularly when you’re in leadership, what you eat really matters. If a leader doesn’t take care of the physical body, through diet, through exercise, and through rest, you will mess up. If you are not getting sleep, it’s really difficult to be what God has called you to be because you’re too tired, which means you’ll be irritable, and you’ll make mistakes. If you’re not on your game, it’s hard to really win the game. And sometimes you can win because of gifts from the Creator, but typically, in order to win, you’ve got to be game ready. That can’t happen if you don’t take care of the physical body.
We think about being prepared academically, being prepared systemically, having the money to do the things we want to do. All that’s important, but what I have to prepare as a minister and as a leader is myself. I’ve got to keep my spiritual self intact. I’ve got to keep my social situations intact. I’ve got to keep my physical situation intact. I’ve got to keep my psychological situation intact. I’ve got to keep my relational pieces intact. If those fall apart, I am not as equipped to do what I’m called to do. Those are the things in your toolbox; those are the items that you use. The more you take good care of those aspects of life, the sharper you are, the better. It’s really important to keep a balanced life as a leader.
Renew your church’s imagination for ministry
The Renovations Project helps leaders learn, together.
- Thought-provoking masterclasses
- Personalized coaching
- Immersive visit to a ministry innovation hub
- Ministry innovation grants up to $5,000
Rev. Dr. Micah McCreary
Rev. Micah L. McCreary, Ph.D., is president of New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and a minister of Word and sacrament in the Reformed Church in America (RCA). He also serves the RCA as a General Synod professor of theology. Prior to coming to New Brunswick, Dr. McCreary served in the pastorate, psychological practice, and professorate at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. He studied engineering at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and theology at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.
