Social Wellness
Social well-being is a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of effective Christian leadership. A leader’s ability to foster meaningful relationships, maintain strong communication, and build a supportive social network directly impacts personal fulfillment and professional success. Christian leaders who prioritize social well-being create a well-balanced life and, in turn, reduce the negative impacts of burnout. (To review the previous article of this life balance journey click here.)
Leadership can sometimes feel isolating, making a strong support network essential. Surrounding oneself with mentors, peers, and friends who offer encouragement and guidance can help alleviate stress and provide new perspectives. Networking with other leaders, joining professional groups, and participating in community events can also open doors to valuable collaborations and learning opportunities.
Research by social psychologist Dr. David McClelland of Harvard University found that “the people you habitually associate with determine as much as 95 percent of your success or failure in life.” As a Chrisitan leader, who are you spending time with? Are these people leading you in the direction you desire for your life as a Christian leader?
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Practices for Social Wellness
Completing a social network inventory is one practice to improve our social well-being as Christian leaders. A social network inventory is a tool that helps leaders assess and strengthen their relationships by identifying key connections, evaluating their impact, and finding areas for improvement.
To begin, list four key qualities you desire in a friendship, such as: Christian character, consistency, accountability, and compassion. First, recognize if you bring these qualities into your friendships and notice any areas you need to grow in yourself. Then, write out the people you spend the most time with weekly, which may be at work or in a variety of different environments. Next, identify which of these four attributes each person you spend time with encompasses in your friendship. Lastly, communicate your thoughts openly and honestly with your friends to establish a plan to strengthen your relationship.
As you strengthen your social wellness, you will notice lasting impacts on your Christian leadership skills. Leadership training goes beyond a skillset on paper; it is more about the people we are becoming and less about what we are doing.
Resources for Social Wellness:
If you want to read more about social well-being, check out this book about developing your social circle or this article about living in community.
