A few years back, I had the absolute pleasure of listening to Jessica Bealer at the She Leads Summit for Women in Church Leadership. Jessica gave a phenomenal talk on leadership entitled “How to Survive and Thrive in Ministry.” As I close out 2021 and daydream about my next trip around the sun, I am reminded of her presentation. I share with you today my takeaways in hopes that you, too, are blessed with leading a more efficient life.
As women, we are in unique positions of leadership daily. We raise up our children. We keep our households afloat. We steady our husbands. By profession, we might even lead a team. By faith, we may lead others to salvation and knowing Christ.
As an educator, I lead in the classroom and teach students how to show up as their best selves. At church, I walk alongside students with special needs and lead Biblical discussions with my chosen few. As an entrepreneur, I run a small business providing educational publications so that other teacher leaders can work smarter, not harder, in their respective schools. It’s a lot to keep track of! Some days, I feel like I’m doing too much. Other days, I feel like I’m not doing enough. Every day, though, I need Jesus to keep me Kingdom-focused!
Whatever your ministry may be, however big or small, know that it matters. Your life, your calling, your responsibilities.. it all matters! It matters to God, and it matters for all eternity. As a result, our daily schedules should not be taken lightly. The Bible even says so:
Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV 15 Be very careful, then, how you liveโnot as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
How do I ensure I am making the most of every day I have been gifted? I make a plan, let others know the plan, and execute the plan best I know how, God willing of course! Let me explain:
TIP #1 – Calendar your week.
Take a moment to write out everything you are responsible for and how long each responsibility will take you. Take advantage of online schedulers like Google Calendar and set up reoccurring events if need be. Don’t forget to schedule your downtime as well! You’ll need time to “do nothing” and catch your breath during “me time.”
WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE FOR ME: I’m a hybrid planner; digital and paper are my jam. I map out the weeks in my Passion Planner Annual, making use of the hourly time slots to roughly sketch my time commitments. I also have a large desk calendar I use to plan major business meetings, deadlines, and quarterly events. With most of my obligations on paper, I then map out individual days in my Passion Planner Digital, planning with purpose for both productivity and personal time. I schedule date nights just for me as well as time with my gal pals and time with my partner. I also block off hours for the mundane like laundry and meal prep. If my presence is required, it is present on the calendar!
TIP #2 – Share your communication preferences.
Technology is great, but it’s also the devil. Decide how you want to communicate with others and how they should best communicate with you. Should phone calls be reserved for emergencies only? Do you want folx to text you and blow up your notifications throughout the day? Discuss with your people your wants and desires.
WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE FOR ME: Do you know how many church leadership events I almost missed had it not been for a girlfriend of mine, also in ministry, calling to see if I was going? I’m the person with 4 different emails (one for business, one for pleasure/personal, one for work, and one for spam) and at least 500 unread messages on any given day. If you send me an email without shooting off a text message first, don’t expect me to respond for weeks. Text messages is my primary communication language. I check them at strategic points during my day and can delegate and forward to the appropriate avenues. Phone calls (and video for that matter!) are for business affairs and family emergencies.
TIP #3 – Limit your distractions.
Again, technology is great, but it’s also the devil. If he can’t defeat you, he’ll distract you! Remove all unnecessary phone notifications. Remove apps that are time-suckers and offer little to no value. (I’m looking at you, TikTok and Instagram!) When working at home or in the office, set boundaries with your people. It may help to invest in a good pair of noise-canceling headphones.
WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE FOR ME: When I’m working on my business, I put my phone to charge in the other room. When I’m on my planning period at work, I avoid the copy machine room and teacher’s lounge. These are two high-traffic areas and I’m bound to chit-chat with someone. During church, I stick to good ol’ pen and paper for notes. YouVersion is a great digital Bible app, but knowing myself and the way folx blow my phone up on the weekends, I run the risk of checking social media and notifications if given the chance. Eliminate distractions and personal temptations whenever possible!
TIP #4 – Walk and talk your ideas.
Harvard Business Review found meetings are more productive when people are standing. The reason? You are not as comfortable while standing and have less of a chance to daydream. Standing gets the blood flowing and encourages us to get straight to the point. Researchers have also found standing meetings get people more excited about and willing to participate in collaboration.
WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE FOR ME: I can kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. When possible, I merge my exercise and collaborative time. My favorite way to do this is by scheduling park meetings. I’ll walk the dog, admiring the outdoors/nature, while on a business call. It keeps the conversation brief and laser-focused. When working from home, I frequently adjust the height of my standing desk or pedal on the spin bike while reading or recording new ideas.
ACTIONABLE STEPS: Be intentional! Practice leading a more efficient life. Implement one or all of these action steps. Make a plan, let others know the plan, and execute the plan to the best of your abilities! Got questions or comments? Share them below.
