“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6–7 (ESV)
My discouragements usually stem from letdowns—when someone fails to honor a commitment, leaving me to fix another problem. I don’t hold unrealistic expectations, but I do expect people to bring their best effort.
Yet, I have to admit that I sometimes produce mediocre work myself. Juggling competing priorities drains my time and energy, wearing me down to exhaustion. Whenever I slip into a slump like this, I tell myself it wouldn’t be fair to demand more from my team. But how do you address a team that isn’t improving? How do you help them break free from the mental sludge dragging them down?
A simple assessment of the issues can help uncover root causes and underlying mindsets. I was recently reminded that leaders are ultimately responsible for shaping culture, making personal role modeling essential—we are constantly being watched and heard.
Yesterday, a temp employee stopped by to get a time-tracking form signed and shared a bit of “inside information”: “A lot of people like you here. I hear nothing but good things about you.”
Coming at a time when I was feeling deeply worn out by my job, that unexpected compliment was a lift I desperately needed. I try to remain cautious with praise so it doesn’t feed my pride, but it was a encouraging signal that building personal connections across departments is worth the effort.
Was this a subtle pat on the back from God? It certainly felt like it. I’m deeply grateful for how He can quiet a anxious heart using just a few kind words from someone I’d never even formally met.
Leave a comment