WEEK 47 | The Strategy of Rest: Why Margin Makes You a Better Leader

Most leaders love the stretch. We love momentum, progress, and the feeling that comes from pushing toward what’s next. Last week, I wrote about stepping out of your comfort zone and growing in your strength zone — and that kind of growth matters. But there’s a part of leadership that rarely gets talked about, and I’ve had to learn it the hard way:

Stretch can make you strong,
but margin keeps you standing.

For years, especially in ministry, I felt the pressure to be “always on.” If someone needed something, I said yes. If something had to be done, I did it. I convinced myself that being exhausted meant I was being faithful. And on paper, it looked like I was leading well — things were happening, people were happy, and momentum was strong.

But underneath all of that movement was a pace I couldn’t sustain.

There came a point when the internal pressure and the external demands collided, and the fallout touched every area of my life. My health suffered. My marriage felt the strain. My kids got the version of me that was present physically but stretched thin emotionally. Any leader who has lived there knows the tension: you’re functioning… but you’re not flourishing.

And here’s the lie high-capacity leaders often believe:
“If I slow down, I’ll let people down.”

But the truth is the opposite. When you lead without margin, you don’t just drain yourself — you diminish the people who depend on you. Your presence shifts. Your clarity dims. Your patience thins. Your leadership starts to leak, just like Dr. Henry Cloud often says: leaders reproduce the emotional reality they create.

That was the turning point for me. I realized the things suffering most were the things that mattered most — things God had entrusted to me long before positions, titles, or responsibilities. And so, I made a difficult decision: I stepped back. I released roles I cared about and expectations I carried. It felt like a free fall at the time… but it became one of the best leadership decisions of my life.

Because stepping back gave me space to breathe again.
And space became the soil where clarity grew back.
Margin didn’t weaken me — it rebuilt me.

In Mark 6, Jesus says something that’s become a leadership anchor for me. The disciples had been pouring themselves out, serving nonstop, with people coming and going so quickly they didn’t even have time to eat. And Jesus didn’t congratulate them for their grind. He didn’t say, “Push harder — you’re almost there.” Instead, He said,

“Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” (Mark 6:31, ESV)

That wasn’t a suggestion.
It was direction.
He was protecting His team from the pace that would eventually destroy the mission.

And if Jesus Himself invited leaders to rest, we can stop feeling guilty for needing it too.

Over the last few years, I’ve come to see rest not as a retreat from responsibility, but as part of responsibility. Rest isn’t stepping out of leadership — it’s what strengthens leadership. Margin isn’t empty space — it’s the oxygen leadership breathes.

Cloud says, “Your energy is your responsibility.” And he’s right.
Leaders without margin eventually lead without clarity.
Leaders who never stop eventually stop leading well.

The truth is simple:
You lead better when you lead from a full mind and a grounded heart.

And margin is what makes that possible.

For me, margin now looks like protecting space in my calendar, not just filling it. It looks like unplugged hours, not guilt-filled pauses. It looks like choosing presence with my family over the pull of productivity. It looks like resting before I’m exhausted, not after. And not surprisingly… I lead stronger, not weaker.

So here’s my question for you — the same one I’ve been asking myself:

Where do you need more margin so you can lead well again?
Is it your pace?
Your expectations?
Your schedule?
Your boundaries?
Your willingness to step back when everything in you wants to push forward?

Whatever it is, give yourself permission to slow down — not as an escape from leadership, but as an investment in it. The people you lead aren’t looking for a leader who’s always busy. They’re looking for a leader who’s healthy, steady, clear, and present.

A rested leader is a stronger leader.
And sometimes the bravest thing you can do is breathe —
because clarity grows in the space hustle can’t reach.

Week 46 | Strength Zone vs. Comfort Zone

Where Growth Begins

Leadership is a constant balance between what you do best and what challenges you most.

John Maxwell once said, “Stay in your strength zone, but continually move out of your comfort zone.” That one principle has shaped how I think about growth and how I coach others to lead.

Your strength zone is where your natural talents create the most value. It’s the space where you feel energized, focused, and capable—the work comes naturally, and the results often follow.

But your comfort zone is something different. It’s where those same talents stop growing. Comfort feels safe, but it never produces growth. It protects what was instead of preparing what could be.

The best leaders know how to stay in one and step out of the other.

The Trap of Comfort

It’s easy to drift into maintenance mode—especially when things are working. Teams are stable, systems are smooth, and results are steady. But comfort can quietly dull innovation and initiative.

The truth is: leaders who settle for comfort eventually lose purpose. Leaders who develop their strengths discover greater purpose.

Your comfort zone protects you.
Your strength zone propels you.

The Purpose of Strength

Scripture reminds us,

“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
— 1 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV)

Our strengths—both natural and spiritual—were never meant to stay static. They were given to serve. The more you use them, the more they mature and multiply.

If you spend your career only fixing weaknesses, you might achieve competence. But if you invest in the strengths within you, you’ll grow in influence, excellence, and fulfillment.

Growth happens when we stretch what we already do well into new territory.

The Growth Challenge

This week, ask yourself:

• Where have I gotten too comfortable?

• What step could stretch my strengths again?

Leadership isn’t about staying where it’s safe—it’s about stepping into the stretch that shapes you.

Because growth begins where comfort ends.

The Power of Presence

We live in a world that rewards speed, noise, and multitasking.
Our calendars stay full, our phones are always within reach, and our attention is constantly being pulled toward whatever is urgent in the moment.

But distraction has a cost—especially in leadership.
When our focus drifts, so does the focus of those we lead.

Presence isn’t just personal; it’s formative. It shapes teams, culture, and trust. And it’s one of the simplest, most overlooked ways we reflect Christ in the way we lead.

The Moment That Convicted Me

Not long ago, I caught myself in a meeting—leading, talking, multitasking—but not truly there.

I was guiding the conversation, answering questions, nodding at the right moments. On the surface, everything looked fine. But quietly, I was also skimming an email I had convinced myself “couldn’t wait.”

In that moment, I realized how easy it is to be active without being attentive.

I wasn’t trying to be dismissive or disrespectful. I was just moving fast, trying to keep up with everything coming at me. But my lack of attention said something I didn’t intend to say.

And if we’re honest, I think we’ve all had moments like that as leaders.

We show up physically—but our minds are somewhere else.
We’re in the room—but not really with the people in it.

Activity Isn’t Engagement

Somewhere along the way, we started confusing busyness with effectiveness. We measure how full our schedules are, how many projects we’re touching, how quickly we’re responding.

But busyness doesn’t build trust—attention does.

People remember how present we were long after they forget what we said.
They may not recall every detail of the meeting, but they will remember whether they felt seen, heard, and valued.

Presence is what turns a conversation into connection.
Without it, our leadership risks becoming efficient, but empty.

Martha, Mary, and the Better Portion

There’s a moment in Scripture that speaks directly into this tension between activity and attention.

“But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’”
— Luke 10:41–42, ESV

It’s important to honor what’s actually happening in this passage.

Martha wasn’t wrong for working. Someone had to prepare the meal. Hospitality mattered. Her desire to serve Jesus was sincere.

But in her striving to serve Him, she nearly missed sitting with Him.

Jesus wasn’t rebuking her work ethic—He was redirecting her attention.
He was gently calling her from anxiety and distraction back to what mattered most in that moment: His presence.

Her activity was good.
Mary’s focus was better.

That scene isn’t primarily about workplace distractions or leadership habits; it’s about a heart that’s invited to choose what is most important in the presence of Christ.

But the principle is still deeply relevant for us as leaders today:

Presence always begins with priorities.
What we give our attention to reveals what we value most.

What It Means for Leaders

The same invitation that Jesus extended to Martha still stands for us.

Even in leadership, it’s easy to be busy for people but not truly with them.
To respond to emails, move projects forward, and keep everything spinning—while quietly drifting away from the people we’re actually called to serve.

Presence isn’t about doing less. It’s about being fully there with the people in front of you.

For years, both as a pastor and now as a leader in the workplace, I’ve come back to a simple phrase:

Your presence matters.

Sometimes the most meaningful thing you can give isn’t an answer or a solution—it’s simply you, fully present.

When leaders give their full attention, they give dignity.
Meetings gain meaning.
Conversations carry trust.

Distraction fractures all of that.
Presence reminds people they matter more than the task.

Wisdom from Experience

Leadership thinkers have been circling this idea for a long time. Patrick Lencioni puts it plainly:

“If you can’t be fully present with the people you lead, you’ll eventually lose the right to lead them.”
— Patrick Lencioni

That’s a strong statement—but it’s true.

Our teams don’t need us to be everywhere. They need us to be here.

Not half in the room and half in our inbox.
Not nodding along while our mind is already in the next meeting.
Not physically present but emotionally unavailable.

Leadership presence isn’t about charisma or being the loudest voice.
It’s about attention. It’s the steady, quiet power of showing up fully—in the meeting, in the conversation, in the moment.

A Leader’s Challenge

So here’s a simple challenge for this week:

Slow down.
Be where your feet are.
Lead with your eyes, your ears, and your heart.

That might look like:

• Putting the phone face-down during a 1:1.

• Closing the laptop in a team conversation.

• Pausing before you respond so you can really listen.

• Giving someone your full attention when they walk into your office.

People may appreciate how efficient you are—
but they’ll remember how present you chose to be.

In a world that constantly pulls us away from the moment we’re in,
presence is one of the most powerful ways we can start strong and lead well.

Thermostat Leadership: Steady Under Pressure

When Pressure Tests Your Leadership

Pressure has a way of revealing what’s really inside us.

Over the past few months, I’ve been leading through one of the most complex and high-stakes projects of my career. Plans shifted. Timelines moved. The outcome looked nothing like what we expected. And yet, in the middle of it all, I saw something powerful taking shape—grit, perseverance, and true leadership rising to the surface.

Those seasons have a way of humbling you. They strip away comfort, test your character, and force you to ask: What kind of leader am I under pressure?

Thermometers vs. Thermostats

Every leader faces a choice in moments like that.
We can be thermometers, simply reflecting the atmosphere around us, or thermostats, intentionally setting it.

A thermometer rises and falls with the environment.
A thermostat regulates the environment with consistency and composure.

The best leaders don’t react to the climate—they reset it.
They bring calm into chaos and confidence into uncertainty.

As author Brian Tracy once said:

“The true test of leadership is how well you function in a crisis.”

Pressure Doesn’t Just Reveal Character — It Refines It

I’ve learned that the true measure of leadership isn’t control—it’s composure.

Anyone can lead when things go right. But when the unexpected happens, leaders are called to steady others by first being steady within themselves.

Pressure doesn’t just reveal character—it refines it.
It shapes endurance. It deepens empathy. It reminds us that leadership is less about holding everything together and more about staying grounded in what matters most.

A Steadfast Spirit

James 1:12 puts it this way:

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
— James 1:12 (ESV)

James wasn’t writing about workplace stress or project deadlines—he was speaking about trials that test our faith. Yet the same steadfast spirit that anchors us in faith can also steady us in leadership.

When our confidence is grounded in God, not outcomes, we can lead with peace even when everything around us feels uncertain.

Lead with Composure

When pressure builds, I’ve learned to pause and ask myself:
Am I mirroring the chaos around me, or modeling the peace within me?

Leadership isn’t about control; it’s about composure.

When we choose to lead from that quiet center—rooted in faith, anchored in peace—we create stability for everyone around us.
Our teams don’t need us to have all the answers; they need us to carry peace into the room.

Set the Temperature

Leadership has never been about avoiding the heat; it’s about standing in it with the kind of faith and steadiness that changes the atmosphere.

Be the thermostat this week.
Set the tone.

Lead with clarity, faith, and steadfast presence.
Because when peace rules in you, it spreads through those you lead.

#StartStrongLeadWell

The Decision Filter: Leading with Wisdom and Peace

When Leadership Demands Discernment

Leadership rarely gives you perfect information.
More often, it gives you tension—two good options, one hard choice, and the weight of knowing people are depending on your decision.

I’ve been there. Early in my career, I used to pray for certainty—for God to spell it out clearly. But I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about finding certainty; it’s about walking in discernment.

Certainty demands control.
Discernment requires trust.

And that shift has changed the way I lead.

The Decision Filter

Over the years, I began using what I call The Decision Filter—a simple way to slow down and align choices with what matters most.

I run every significant decision through three questions:

1. Values — Does this line up with who I am and what I believe?
2. Vision — Does this move me toward where God is leading?
3. Voice — Have I invited wise counsel and God’s perspective into it?

It’s not a formula; it’s a framework.
The Decision Filter helps me lead from conviction, not emotion—rooted in truth rather than driven by pressure.

Wisdom for the Asking

James gives leaders a promise that’s both simple and profound:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
— James 1:5 (ESV)

James was writing to believers facing trials, not executives facing deadlines, but the principle still holds: wisdom isn’t earned; it’s asked for.

Leaders don’t need to have every answer—they just need the humility to seek God’s.

Dr. Tony Evans once said,

“All decision-making is a values-clarifying exercise.”

He’s right. Every choice—big or small—reveals what’s really leading us.
When we pause to examine our motives through the Decision Filter, we discover what’s steering our hearts: fear or faith, ambition or obedience.

Peace as Confirmation

There’s one more layer to wise leadership: peace.

After I’ve walked through my filter, I pay attention to what’s happening in my spirit. When the peace of God settles deep in my heart—even if the situation still feels uncertain—that’s my signal I’m heading in the right direction.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 4:7 (ESV)

That peace doesn’t guarantee an easy road; it simply assures me I’m not walking it alone.
It guards my heart, confirms my direction, and gives me confidence to step forward in faith.

Leading with Clarity and Conviction

Leadership decisions will always carry weight, but they don’t have to carry confusion.

When you filter your choices through Values, Vision, and Voice, ask for wisdom, and follow peace, you can move forward—even into uncertainty—with confidence.

Because godly leadership isn’t about controlling outcomes.
It’s about walking faithfully in the direction of wisdom and trusting God with the rest.

#StartStrongLeadWell

What’s Your Story? Leading Through Listening

One of the most powerful questions a leader can ask is simple yet profound:
“What’s your story?”

Over the years, I’ve learned that question has the power to change relationships, reshape teams, and reveal the heart behind the work we do.

When we take time to listen, we do more than gather information—we build bridges. Every story we hear becomes a bridge we can lead across.

The Power of a Question

When I served as a pastor, I became known for asking that one question. Most of those conversations happened over coffee—just two people sitting down, one cup and one story at a time.

I discovered that when people share their stories, they open the door to their hearts. They share their dreams, fears, values, and faith. And often, what begins as small talk turns into sacred ground.

Jesus said it best:

“Out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
— Luke 6:45 (ESV)

If we listen long enough, we begin to hear what fills a person’s heart. Their words reveal what matters most to them—their priorities, their pain, and their purpose.

Good leaders learn to listen that way—not just with their ears, but with discernment.

From the Church to the Marketplace

What I learned in ministry still shapes how I lead today.
Every person on your team has a story shaping how they work and why they care.

If you listen long enough, you’ll always find common ground—a shared value, a familiar struggle, or a common dream. It might take some digging, but it’s always worth the effort.

Listening turns workplaces into communities and coworkers into collaborators.

The Divine Intersection

I call this the Divine Intersection—the place where your story intersects with mine, and together they align with a greater mission and vision.

When stories connect, trust grows. Connection deepens. Collaboration strengthens.
Purpose becomes shared.

That’s the moment leadership becomes more than strategy—it becomes ministry.

Lead People, Not Tasks

Leadership at its best isn’t about directing tasks; it’s about developing people.
And people are shaped by their stories.

The moment you ask, “What’s your story?” you stop leading tasks and start leading hearts.

So, here’s the challenge for this week:
Who’s one person on your team whose story you need to hear?

Because every time we listen with intention, we lead with compassion.
And that’s where trust—and transformation—begin.

#StartStrongLeadWell