Leaders need to be aware of a subtle enemy to effective leadership – burnout. That physical and psychological exhaustion and diminished efficiency resulting from overwork or prolonged exposure to stress. Often, the problem starts with a legitimate crisis that truly demands additional time and effort. But, somehow when the crisis is over, we don’t go back to a normal routine of work, recreation, and rest.

If a leader does not take conscious steps to correct the problem, there are several actions that seem to happen almost automatically so the body and mind can protect themselves from longterm damage. We have a health crisis that gets our attention, we lose passion for our situations and change jobs or change spouses or we find a distraction in other activities that take us away from the activity that seems to be what is creating the exhaustion and stress. One of the auto-corrective actions that appears to be the most innocent looking burnout-buster is distraction. But, for any leader, distraction is the great enemy of direction. Read 1 Kings 11:1-43.