3 Questions To Discern If You're Ready For A Fresh Start

At some point in the careers of most church staff members, they come to a crossroads, forcing them to ask one critical question: To stay or to go?

Answering this question can be difficult and will take significant reflection. When determining whether to stay or go in your current role, here are three questions to help you in your discernment process:

1. Am I Ready For a New Challenge?

If you are in a rut in your current position, it may be time for a change. We all face days of boredom and restlessness in our jobs. The key is discerning whether or not this feeling of blasé is just a season or if it is here to stay. You may be able to take on a new challenge in your current role by seeking out new opportunities or identifying areas for growth within your role. For example, are there any responsibilities associated with your role that could be updated or improved? Is there a new program or ministry that you could implement? Is there a new project idea you’ve brainstormed but never found the right moment to propose?

If the answer to any of these questions is "yes," then there may be a challenge you can take on so that you feel rejuvenated and refreshed in your current role. However, if the answer is "no," and the boredom continues to creep in, it may be time to consider a new path.

2. Am I Ready To Join a New Network?

Tapping into a new network of colleagues and friends can be exciting; however, a new set of colleagues means it will be challenging to stay as invested in your current network. You’ll undoubtedly stay in touch with some, but not all. If you’re open to that change, then it may be time to start considering a new path.

Alternatively, transitioning into a new workplace runs the risk of encountering new colleagues that may be difficult to work with. Unfortunately, you will not know if this will be the case until you've already accepted a job and have started working. While you will always run into this risk with any new opportunity, if you are not ready to face it, you may be inclined to stay put where you are.

3. Am I Ready for a Fresh Start?

While it can be exciting to start fresh in a new role, it can also have its drawbacks. Are you ready to leave behind a place where you have a well-known reputation? Being in the same work environment for a lengthy amount of time undoubtedly brings a certain amount of clout and respect with it. People know who you are and what you stand for. People trust you.

Starting over somewhere new means you will have to build new relationships, gain new trust with colleagues, and prove your competencies and capabilities.

If the idea of change and starting fresh somewhere else rejuvenates you, then start that new church job search process! If the idea drains you, pray about staying put.

If you are answering "yes," to two out of three of these questions, it might be time to start praying about going. Of course, there are many other questions to consider, but these are a few great ones to get you started.

What are other questions that have helped you discern your next step? What has helped you as you transitioned to a new job?