3 Reasons why Frustration is Your Most Dangerous Enemy

We all have this same issue the creeps up on us as leaders: frustration. 

There is an Old Testament picture of the price of frustration. God told Moses to strike the rock and water would flow. Moses struck it with frustration (anger) more than once and then God informed Moses that he would not be entering the promise land because of this. What was the big issue? Frustration. 

We may not be trying to get 1 million people into the promised land but we can definitely identify. We all get frustrated. We all have had the sound bite, "That's all I can stands and I can't stands no more (in your Popeye voice)."

Lets face it. People quit. People who you trusted go behind your back and say nasty things. There is a huge task list. Sometimes it is unthankful. Oftentimes we respond in frustration. 

Frustration is very dangerous to a leader. It is that short circuit in the system that eventually causes the melt down. This is true for marriage, ministry or leadership. 

Here are 3 reasons why frustration is your most dangerous enemy: 

1) It is a build up to a nasty ending. 

•Frustration not dealt with is like destroying the bridge you are going to eventually cross. Anytime a leader reaches a place of continual frustration it doesn't end well. A leader has to realize that once that disease sets in it is almost always fatal. 

2) It demoralizes the team or relationship.

• A frustrated leader often has nothing of value to add to the team at that point. They are usually jaded and bitter. They spew negativity about people and the future. 

Let's face it. At this point it's hard to lead with vision. Most of the talk is of past hurt and what people are not doing. It ultimately makes it impossible to lead a team. 

3) It causes perpetual ungratefulness. 

• Probably the worst problem is this. There is so much to be grateful and thankful for. We usually let the 1,000 things going great be overshadowed by the 1 thing that is going wrong. 

Frustration causes us to miss the beautiful things happening in our midst. 

If you feel like this is you then you need to confide in someone and dump on them. Secondly be prepared for advice and perspective. Let that come from trusted friends and from God. Pause to hear what He is saying. 

Finally, sit down and count the cost. Can you overcome this disease of frustration at your current assignment or do you need another one? 

Routine vs. Rhythm

Q: I get this question asked a lot ,"How do you get so much accomplished and stay so focused?"

A: Routines are deadly while a rhythm is necessary for growth as a leader. 

The people (including this guy) who face constant burn out are those who have a routine but no rhythm. This means their routine is a habitual problem that puts them in the direct line of burnout. 

A routine can be very deadly. For instance, your routine could be that you: 

•take on every task as it comes. 

•don't say no to opportunities or needs. 

•leave work late every day because you can't say no. 

•allow other people or co-worker's lack of planning put you in a tough spot. 

•don't schedule meetings properly or schedule too many. 

•allow people to back you in a corner by needing it "right now." They need to learn to plan as well. 

•have no daily and weekly task, meeting and emergency schedule.

And the main reason is you don't have a rhythm. Lets be honest: your routine of spontaneity, haphazard planning, lack of foresight and inability to say no is taking its toll on you. 

2013 was the year I had to move from an unhealthy routine of the hamster wheel to a healthy rhythm. 

A rhythm means that you establish certain tasks on certain days, live by a calendar, protect your personal time and refuse to be spread thin. 

A rhythm looks like this: 

•certain tasks HAVE to be scheduled and completed weekly. I will even say, "I am in a meeting." It's that serious. I am meeting with that task. 

•schedule personal devotion time and exercise. Being physically unhealthy is the result of a routine as well. 

•Plan time in each day for "surprise" or emergency tasks. They will happen. Stop being surprised.

•live by a schedule. This means you can't stay on the phone as long as you want or surf the Internet all day. There are times when I can't take calls because I have scheduled "meetings" with critical tasks. 

•if it's important they will leave a message. Schedule times to return calls and emails. 

•have downtime EVERY DAY. Don't be so consumed with work that it's a you do or think about. 

Here is the easy way to do this. Plan your week around the big tasks that have to happen that week and every week. 

I write my Sunday message on Monday. Why? The media team needs it and I don't want them to be pressured late and I want that monkey off my back. I have 4 major tasks everyday that have to be accomplished. I work through those first and then go to "surprise" tasks that come in via email or call. The schedule dictates my time, not feelings or other people. 

Take time this week to set up a RHYTHM. Remember, don't complain because you are the master of your schedule. If you live in a rhythm then others will have to adjust their routines to your rhythm.