Anxiety

Several months ago a pastor friend of mine turned me onto a set of three books about pastoral leadership by a man named Peter Steinke. They're exceptional books that have really changed the way I think about leadership in some critical ways.

Steinke writes a lot about leading through anxiety. I love his basic operating premise: one of the most fundamental roles of the leader is dealing with anxiety because anxiety always exists.

When the organization changes too quickly, the people become anxious. When the organization isn't changing, the people become anxious. Anxiety always exists.

Wise leaders don't avoid anxiety - they lean into it, find the cause, consider the implications of anxiety, set healthy boundaries, and move forward with a blend of steady caution and conviction.