Funk is a kind of music, a kind of smell, and the name of a chemist who coined the term “vitamin.” It’s also a place where ministry leaders hate to be.
I was reflecting on a flight to Chicago today about the obstacles achieving clarity that are not related to the visioning process itself. One of them is the leader’s funk. Over the last ten years I have seen the funk break out at different times and places in the lives of clients, friends and in my own life.
How do you know you are in a funk?
- Feeling tattered or tired – lack of energy
- Feeling disoriented or disillusioned – lack of clarity
- Feeling discouraged or depressed – lack of meaning
- Feeling tangled or trapped – lack of freedom
I have seen the funk last as sort as 3 month or as long as 3 years. You are not in a leadership funk unless you have had substantial traction as a point leader in one place for a while, say 5 years.
Here are a few quick thoughts on rediscovering clarity, energy, meaning and freedom
Two things to know:
Every leader gets the funk- you are not alone or abnormal. You are in a real place that leaders must go if they are effective leaders!
You will get out of the funk- patience is an important part of the big picture. Do not try to muscle yourway out of a funk as it will make it worse.
Three things to do:
Find funkmates. One essential for navigating the funk is having safe people to talk with who give yousupport and sanity by providing some iota of hope, wisdom or energy. They may just provide a laugh or smile that gets you through the day. Recruit funkmates to pray for you and with you.
Rehearse beginnings. Reflect on the sweetest days on your life and the practices, experiences associated with them. Re-romance your life by rehearsing early days when passion for God and people was born. If the Scriptures feel stale, don’t beat yourself up. Just reflect on favorite texts. Do whatever it takes just to crack the bible open and spend a moment with Jesus.
Maintain course. Don’t try to fix your funk by making dramatic changes in the organization you are leading. It’s probably the safest bet to maintain the current heading until you pull out of the funk.
Be OK with yourself. Your funk is probably your greatest opportunity to re-apply the gospel to your soul. It’s your opportunity to re-establish your identity in the voice of the Father who says, “You are my beloved son or daughter in whom I am well pleased.” What good is your leadership anyway if you can’t model being OK with yourself in this desert season?