Survey Results On Burn Out And Who A Leader Really Is

Recently, I posted two surveys on this site.  The first centered around the issue of leadership burn out.  What prompted me to do this analysis was in response to my post The Top 20 Blogs Christian Leaders Need To Be Reading In 2012.   The 2nd most clicked blog was Serving Strong which I recommended for anyone suffering from burn out.  It obviously hit a nerve.  Here are the results:

• 16% of the respondents were Senior Pastors.  21% were additional executive church staff.  21% were ministry staff.
• 74% of all respondents stated they were burned out.
• 68% said their pace of life was affecting their family, health, AND job performance simultaneously.
• 47.4% state they are seriously considering quitting their jobs this year.
• On a positive note, 79% at least say they have a friend they trust and can confide in.

Some of the anonymous comments were:

“The demands of ministry are normal and take their toll, but this particular position is burning me out as I have little support from the other staff members along the way. I’ve been here X years, and I believe it’s time for me to move on.”

“My best friend is my husband. My worst enemy all too often is myself.”

“I have been in my position less than a year and want to prevent burnout. I have already found myself putting work above many things, even my personal relationship with God. I hope to nip this path to burnout in the bud so I can remain useful and in my calling.”

The 2nd survey I conducted was out of anger.  Ronald Riggio, Professor of Leadership and Organizational Psychology at the Kravis Leadership Institute of Claremont McKenna College said the following in an Inc. magazine interview:

• “Leadership used to mean something specific.  C-level executives.  Leaders of countries.  You would never call a middle manager, and definitely not a frontline supervisor, a leader.  Now, when anybody kind of picks up the ball and carries it forward, we call those people leaders.”
• “Teachers are going through them (leadership development plans), and they might aspire to be prinicipals.  But they’re just third-grade teachers.”

Here is what you the readers thought of Riggio’s comments:

• 73% of the readers stated everyone has influence.
• 80% disgreed with Professor Riggio’s comments.
• Interestingly, 80% of the respondents listed Religion as their profession.

There were some strong comments as well:

“I literally balked when I read the line, “They’re just third-grade teachers!” Eyes bulging, the vein in my forehead popping, I CERTAINLY disagree with his view of leadership and I know that EVERYONE influences those in contact with them, the question is whether they are going to do it positively or negatively.”

“I feel firmly that anyone you interact with, whether it be a homeless individual or the CEO of Procter and Gamble, you have a degree of influence. You can influence their worldview, their vision, their goals, etc.”

“Leaders are all around us. Pride blinds us to their presence. Humility gives us the vision to see and hear them.”

And is a spirit of balance, “The best way to see what someone can do is to see what someone has done.” Many people call themselves leaders, but if they turned around they would see that no one is following. Is the aspiration and (sometimes weak) attempt at leadership enough to be called a “leader?” If everyone is influential and that is the criteria for being a “leader” then wouldn’t the word be watered-down and too weak to carry any importance or designation outside of also just being a human?”

I want to thank everyone who participated in the surveys and made your voice heard.  We will do more surveys in the future.  If you still want to comment on these subjects, click here and here.

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