High Standards, Healthy Souls: Leading with Excellence Without Crushing People
As leaders, we carry the responsibility to uphold a standard.
We’ve been entrusted with resources, people, and moments that matter—especially in the Church. Sundays aren’t just routines. They’re sacred. And because of that, excellence matters. Faithfulness matters. Being prepared matters.
But here’s the tension:
How do we hold people to a high standard without slipping into perfectionism or burnout?
It’s not always easy to compute. Because we want to serve the Lord with everything we’ve got—but not at the cost of joy, health, or grace. So how do we lead teams with both conviction and compassion?
Let’s unpack it.
1. Stretch ≠ Strain
Being tired from serving isn’t automatically bad. Growth always costs something. But there’s a difference between being stretched and being strained.
As leaders, our job is to calibrate the environment.
We don’t eliminate all tiredness—we just make sure the tiredness leads to growth, not burnout.
That means building in rhythms of rest, check-ins, and clarity before and after the assignment.
2. Excellence Honors God and Inspires People
This isn’t just a helpful idea—it’s one of our core values in the Creative Team Handbook. And it matters.
We don’t bring our best to be impressive.
We bring our best because He is worthy.
We pursue excellence not to prove our worth, but to reflect His. Excellence becomes an act of worship—a response to who God is and a way to love people well.
So when we coach someone, correct a miss, or call the team to prepare better—it’s not about control or nitpicking. It’s about stewardship.
Try saying this to your team:
“This isn’t about getting it perfect. It’s about honoring God with our best. And our best includes preparation, humility, and growth.”
3. Use a Loop, Not a Ladder
Some teams operate with a ladder mindset:
But a loop mindset creates growth and safety.
The Excellence Loop:
“I’ll always care more about your response to feedback than your ability to crush it the first time.”
This creates a culture where people grow toward the standard, not strive to earn their place.
4. Say This Out Loud as a Leader
Set the tone. Don’t assume people know your heart—speak it.
“We will be a team that pursues excellence with faithfulness—not perfection with fear.
So yes, we aim high.
If you miss the mark, we’ll coach it.
If you’re tired, we’ll care for you.
But we won’t lower the bar.
We’ll raise our support.”
Final Thought: The Equation of Healthy Leadership
High Standards + Low Grace = Burnout
Low Standards + High Grace = Drift
High Standards + High Grace = Growth
That’s the kind of culture we’re building.
Clarity + Care.
Conviction + Compassion.
Challenge + Support.
That’s how we help our teams—and our souls—grow.
By Joseph Rangel
Campus Pastor, Colorado Springs Campus, Reach Church Network
We’ve been entrusted with resources, people, and moments that matter—especially in the Church. Sundays aren’t just routines. They’re sacred. And because of that, excellence matters. Faithfulness matters. Being prepared matters.
But here’s the tension:
How do we hold people to a high standard without slipping into perfectionism or burnout?
It’s not always easy to compute. Because we want to serve the Lord with everything we’ve got—but not at the cost of joy, health, or grace. So how do we lead teams with both conviction and compassion?
Let’s unpack it.
1. Stretch ≠ Strain
Being tired from serving isn’t automatically bad. Growth always costs something. But there’s a difference between being stretched and being strained.
Stretch (Excellence) | Strain (Perfectionism) |
Grows capacity | Depletes energy and joy |
Feels meaningful | Feels pressured or performative |
Makes room for recovery | Punishes failure |
Invites feedback and learning | Demands flawlessness |
As leaders, our job is to calibrate the environment.
We don’t eliminate all tiredness—we just make sure the tiredness leads to growth, not burnout.
That means building in rhythms of rest, check-ins, and clarity before and after the assignment.
2. Excellence Honors God and Inspires People
This isn’t just a helpful idea—it’s one of our core values in the Creative Team Handbook. And it matters.
We don’t bring our best to be impressive.
We bring our best because He is worthy.
We pursue excellence not to prove our worth, but to reflect His. Excellence becomes an act of worship—a response to who God is and a way to love people well.
So when we coach someone, correct a miss, or call the team to prepare better—it’s not about control or nitpicking. It’s about stewardship.
Try saying this to your team:
“This isn’t about getting it perfect. It’s about honoring God with our best. And our best includes preparation, humility, and growth.”
3. Use a Loop, Not a Ladder
Some teams operate with a ladder mindset:
- You hit the standard? You’re in.
- You drop the ball? You’re out.
But a loop mindset creates growth and safety.
The Excellence Loop:
- Call up to the standard
- Coach what’s missing
- Care for the person
- Commit to another rep
“I’ll always care more about your response to feedback than your ability to crush it the first time.”
This creates a culture where people grow toward the standard, not strive to earn their place.
4. Say This Out Loud as a Leader
Set the tone. Don’t assume people know your heart—speak it.
“We will be a team that pursues excellence with faithfulness—not perfection with fear.
So yes, we aim high.
If you miss the mark, we’ll coach it.
If you’re tired, we’ll care for you.
But we won’t lower the bar.
We’ll raise our support.”
Final Thought: The Equation of Healthy Leadership
High Standards + Low Grace = Burnout
Low Standards + High Grace = Drift
High Standards + High Grace = Growth
That’s the kind of culture we’re building.
Clarity + Care.
Conviction + Compassion.
Challenge + Support.
That’s how we help our teams—and our souls—grow.
By Joseph Rangel
Campus Pastor, Colorado Springs Campus, Reach Church Network
Posted in Leadership
Posted in leadership, excellence, church leadership, creative teams, team culture, servant leadership, burnout prevention, worship ministry, expectations, discipleship
Posted in leadership, excellence, church leadership, creative teams, team culture, servant leadership, burnout prevention, worship ministry, expectations, discipleship