10 Things That Currently Frustrate Me As A Leader

Have you ever just wanted to vent?  I mean to just let it all out.  In the blog world, we call this “a rant”.  Well, if I could have your permission and grace, I am about to be transparent and have a rant about the things that frustrate me as a leader.

Leadership is absolutely wonderful.  It is.  There is an incredible sense of exhilaration when lives are changed and vision becomes reality.  It really is great to be a leader.  However, leadership can also be extraordinarily frustrating.

The following are 10 things that absolutely frustrate me as a leader:

• It frustrates me when vision is not clear and compelling.
• It frustrates me when it is obvious what needs to be done but it appears I am the only one that sees it.
• It frustrates me when people in our churches are not allowed to soar due to policies and procedures.
• It frustrates me when people take credit rather than give credit to others.
• It frustrates me when there is a lack of financial resources.  I will add to this – it frustrates me when churches are literally broke.
• It frustrates me when meetings accomplish nothing.
• It frustrates me when I have a lot of projects going but none of them completed in my timeline.  In other words, loose ends frustrate me.
• It frustrates me when things that are supposed to work, break.
• It frustrates me when I do not know what to do.
• And worst of all, it frustrates me that these things frustrate me.   

That last one is the tough because the hard truth is that the thing that frustrates me most as a leader – IS ME!  Most times I feel like my own worst enemy. 

Why do things frustrate me so much?  I mean, I’m 46 years old and have been in various forms of leadership for 25 years.  I’m not a novice.  I know that vision isn’t always clear.  I know people, especially myself, make mistakes.  I know money comes and goes.  I know that most meetings are a waste of time and that things break at the most inopportune times.  So why then do I let these things frustrate me?  I should know better.

It’s funny, I have gone through a repentive process just writing this post.  I started out frustrated with everything and everyone.  Now I just feel frustrated with myself.  I am so glad that repentance trumps frustration because that is what I currently want and need.

I should have more patience.  I should love people more.  I should realize that process is a good thing.  I should not be so selfish.  I should remember how God uses my “waiting” in incredible ways.  I should know better.

Because of repentance, I am in the process of replacing frustration with gratitude for the great things in my life.  I hope my feelings of gratitude last for a long time because I do have much to be thankful for.    

There is a leader(s) reading this post who is currently very frustrated.  I’m speaking right to where you are at.  I understand your journey because I have been there.  All leaders have.  Just don’t stay there.

I repeat – Just don’t stay there.

Subscribe here so future posts can be sent directly to your Inbox. Also, as a gift for doing so, I will also send you a FREE copy of my latest eBook 151 Leadership Quotes: Timeless Truths That Will Make You A Better Leader.