Maximizing Impact

Exodus 18:6–18 M:BCL

6 He had sent a message ahead to Moses: “I, your father-in-law, am coming to you with your wife and two sons.” 7 Moses went out to welcome his father-in-law. He bowed to him and kissed him. Each asked the other how things had been with him. Then they went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law the story of all that God had done to Pharaoh and Egypt in helping Israel, all the trouble they had experienced on the journey, and how God had delivered them. 9 Jethro was delighted in all the good that God had done for Israel in delivering them from Egyptian oppression. 10 Jethro said, “Blessed be God who has delivered you from the power of Egypt and Pharaoh, who has delivered his people from the oppression of Egypt. 11 Now I know that God is greater than all gods because he’s done this to all those who treated Israel arrogantly.” 12 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a Whole-Burnt-Offering and sacrifices to God. And Aaron, along with all the elders of Israel, came and ate the meal with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God. 13 The next day Moses took his place to judge the people. People were standing before him all day long, from morning to night. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What’s going on here? Why are you doing all this, and all by yourself, letting everybody line up before you from morning to night?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me with questions about God. 16 When something comes up, they come to me. I judge between a man and his neighbor and teach them God’s laws and instructions.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law said, “This is no way to go about it. 18 You’ll burn out, and the people right along with you. This is way too much for you—you can’t do this alone.

I want to talk to you about maximizing your impact as a leader while avoiding burnout.

There is an illustration I often use when explaining Strengths Based coaching. It’s about the difference between Joe Montana and Rudy Ruttiger. There was a movie made about Rudy and his perseverance and heart. He went from community college to walk on at Notre Dame. He wasn’t the best player but he probably was the hardest worker and had the most heart. He sacrificed the most and won the respect of his teammates. He couldn’t get into a game to play. But, in dramatic fashion, he got into the last series of the last game of his senior year with his dad in the stands. Joe Montana also was known to be a hard worker with a big heart. But he also had incredible skills and as a quarterback he eventually won 4 super bowls and was the MVP for three of them. The difference was that Joe Montana was pouring his heart and effort into areas he was gifted and he had great success. Rudy had a great story for all his sacrifice and hard work.

Many of us are working hard and getting things done in work and life and ministry but it is overwhelming and draining instead of life giving and energizing.

We need to understand that there are things that God has called us to do and people that He has called us to partner with in order to accomplish all that He has appointed for us (cf. Ephesians 2.10).

When we learn to operate by the wisdom of God we will see our leadership effectiveness and impact increase. We will be able to execute at a high level without sacrificing ourselves and being lost to burnout, stress, and anxiety.

You Are Not Alone

Many people suffer in life and leadership because they believe that their work defines their worth. They also tend to believe that they are the only ones who are working, or doing it right. But this is not true, it is a deception that can ultimately lead to our own breakdown.

Romans 12:3–6 NLT

3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. 6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.

When Elijah was serving God with all of his might—confronting kings and false prophets and false priests—he thought he was all alone. He thought that no one else was living for God and doing kingdom good. But he was wrong. There were 7,000 others who were also serving God and doing kingdom work (1 Kings 19.18).

The pressure he put on himself led him to despair and burnout. Despite fire falling from heaven and people turning to God he interpreted the queens threats as failure. He became depressed and suicidal (1 Kings 19.1-4).

This response is very prevalent when people define their worth by their work. They work harder and longer—at work and at home. They hustle and grind and take it all on themselves.

But God did not design you to do it alone.

In fact, if you want to maximize your impact and avoid burnout you need to lean how to partner with others as you pursue the will of God in every sphere of life.

We were created by God to work in partnership with others and as each of us contribute and work together in unity we can do great things that bring glory to God no matter the context (i.e. family, church, work, etc.).

Steps to Maximizing Impact and Avoiding Burnout

In the story of Moses we see that he is doing basically everything on his own when it comes to leading Israel. When his father-in-law came and saw that as one man Moses was making himself available one-by-one to the over 1 million members of Israel he told him, “This is not good. Both you and the people will burn out.”

Moses was teachable. He was humble enough to listen to the council of Jethro and as a result received wisdom from God that enabled him to actually accomplish more in his leadership without destroying his life in the process.

Focus on You

Exodus 18:19–20 M:BCL

19 Now listen to me. Let me tell you how to do this so that God will be in this with you. Be there for the people before God, but let the matters of concern be presented to God. 20 Your job is to teach them the rules and instructions, to show them how to live, what to do.

As a leader, there are some things that only you can do.

Moses was called to be the prophet of God for the people. No one could do that role for him. No one else was called to that and given the authority to operate in that call.

There is a sphere of authority that you—and you alone—are called to operate in.

2 Corinthians 10:13–16 NKJV

13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; 15 not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, 16 to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.

The authority you have enables you to accomplish your calling or vocation. Don’t waste your authority on what others can do. Instead, leverage it for the thing that you were given that authority for.

In other words, focus your effort and energy on the sphere that you have the greatest authority. This will enable you to accomplish greater things and redirect energy and resources to the things only you can do.

Illustration: In interior design, or photography, the focal point matters. A focal point is the point of focus or center of interest or activity. Without it a room is incoherent and your eye has nothing to rest on. You will constantly be looking around. But having a focal point gives direction and purpose to the room. It brings it together. When you have a focal point, everything works together to complete the scene. What you remember most is not the supporting pieces but the center piece.

When you are a leader you have to choose to focus on what you bring to the table. What is under your authority? What is your primary responsibility? Whatever that is needs to become your focal point. Everything else is going to work together to support that primary call or function.

If you want to maximize your impact don’t set your focus on what others are doing (or not doing). Instead, focus on what you are positioned to accomplish. Stand in your sphere of authority and let that be the starting point of action.

Choose Your People Wisely

Exodus 18:21 M:BCL

And then you need to keep a sharp eye out for competent men—men who fear God, men of integrity, men who are incorruptible—and appoint them as leaders over groups organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten.

Once you have established what you are called to do. You have to choose others to partner with. This is so that you can distribute the work and expand your impact. Multiplication happens when there are partnerships. A single person is a limited resource. A team has exponentially more capability.

But it is not enough to just add people to your team or project or ministry. You have to add the right people.

Competence

The first quality was competent men. This means that they had to be capable, skilled, able. They need to be qualified.

When you are choosing the people for your team or ministry or project you want to look for people who are competent and capable.

Relationship with God

The next qualifier was men who fear God. You want to partner with people who have a relationship with God. You want people who fear God and have a biblical worldview as you choose who you connect with.

Relationship with others

Finally you are looking for men of integrity…who are incorruptible. This speaks to how those people relate to others. You want people who have integrity and don’t cheat or cut corners.

Be the person you would choose

When you are leading others and choosing who you would partner with of put on your project, you want the right people.

The other side of this is that you want to be the right people. You tend to attract what you are.

Illustration: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade—Holy Grail knight, “But choose wisely, for while the true Grail will bring you life, the false Grail will take it from you.”

If you want to maximize your impact choose your people wisely. They will help you succeed or they will cause you to suffer.

Equip and Empower Others

Exodus 18:20–22 M:BCL

20 Your job is to teach them the rules and instructions, to show them how to live, what to do. 21 And then you need to keep a sharp eye out for competent men—men who fear God, men of integrity, men who are incorruptible—and appoint them as leaders over groups organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten. 22 They’ll be responsible for the everyday work of judging among the people. They’ll bring the hard cases to you, but in the routine cases they’ll be the judges. They will share your load and that will make it easier for you.

Moses had to teach them and show them how they were to carry out their assignment. As a leader, he equipped them for the work.

And then he delegated authority to them according to their competency, spirituality, and character.

If we want to maximize our impact we need to equip others. We need to teach them and lead them and them empower them. We have to give them the trust and authority to do what they are called to do in this season.

As you share the load with others it becomes lighter on you and together you will accomplish great things.

Illustration: Canadian Ox Pull. Strongest ox did 9,000 lbs and runner up did just under that. They wondered how much the two strongest could pull together. Some bet 16k, some 17k, some thought double at 18k. Together the oxen pulled 26,000 lbs.

This is synergy. Not addition, but multiplication. And this is how we multiply our impact and make a difference.

Conclusion

We are all called to leadership. Whether that is in a family, or board room, or ministry, God has a given to each of us a sphere of authority.

But we can’t accomplish everything God has appointed us to without others.

Focus on you—prioritize your energy and effort on that which you have authority over.

Choose your people wisely—find competent partners who love God and treat people right.

Equip and empower others—teach and show others how to apply what you are teaching them. Then delegate authority to them to do those things.

Exodus 18:23 M:BCL

If you handle the work this way, you’ll have the strength to carry out whatever God commands you, and the people in their settings will flourish also.”

When we do these things we will discover more freedom in our lives, less stress, and more peace.

We will finish the race, avoid burnout, and maximize our fruitfulness for the glory of God.