When Leaders Are Fatigued

I look forward to watching the World Cup Soccer tournament every four years. I’ve observed a predictable pattern in every World Cup game, whether it’s one of the first games or the championship. It’s the difference between the players at the beginning and end of the match. In the opening minutes, their energy is high. Their passes are crisper. When a collision occurs, they tend to bounce up quickly and resume play. Late in the game, the fatigue is obvious. They make more mistakes in their passes and dribbling. A collision that would have been minor near the start appears more serious near the end, based on how long the player writhes on the ground in pain. I see the same pattern with leaders. When they start a new role, they are fresh and full of energy. They (hopefully) make thoughtful, wise decisions. But leadership is draining, and when leaders are fatigued, they make mistakes, just like the soccer players. They push a decision through without considering all the factors or consulting with key people. They get sloppy in their communication, and someone gets left out of the loop on an important assignment. The wounds of leadership also hurt more when a leader is fatigued. A negative comment that would have been dismissed in better times plays over and over in the mind of a tired leader. A simple question about a decision sends the leader spiraling into self-doubt. So what does this mean for you? One mistake by a soccer player can allow an opponent to score a game-changing goal. My hope is that you’ll take this as a caution that it’s better to take time off than to press ahead and make a serious mistake. It’s a warning to heed the early signs of fatigue. It’s a reminder of the importance of rest and self-care. One of the interesting rules in the World Cup is that each team is only allowed to make 3 substitutions during the game. That means that 7 players (plus the goalie) play the entire 90 minutes, running for much of that time. No wonder they’re exhausted! As a leader, you may also feel like you can’t take a break, that no one can fill-in for you. And yet, leaders aren’t prohibited from taking rest breaks or making short-term substitutions. So don’t be trapped by imagined rules. Get the rest you need so that you can win in whatever game God has called you to play. It’s easy to receive my blogs by email. Just sign-up on Feedburner by clicking here.]]>