Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessica Karuchit. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jessica, thrilled to have you on the platform as I think our readers can really benefit from your insights and experiences. In particular, we’d love to hear about how you think about burnout, avoiding or overcoming burnout, etc.
When your life work requires caring for others and keeping the daily operations of an organization going as mine does, it takes consistent intentionality to avoid burnout. I am a pastor, oversee a nonprofit organization, and have a family to care for. In addition, I tend to be the type of person who can easily fall into overworking when I don’t put healthy boundaries in place for myself. After my son was born, I took a hiatus from my previous work in pastoral ministry and took a job in HR/Safety at a manufacturing company. I didn’t realize how much I needed that hiatus to focus on being a new mother and recharge my batteries until I was in the midst of it. I could go to that job and not take any of it home with me and it was a breath of fresh air. It was also a season of learning brand new skills and working in a completely different environment. I am a better leader now because of what I learned in that season and I gathered knowledge that there are essential elements that help me find the balance I need and avoid burnout.
One of the important elements of self-awareness for me comes from having a mentor in my life. I’ve had different mentors in each season of my journey, but they’ve always been people who I could be honest with and they would be honest with me. Having relationships with people who aren’t afraid to tell you when they notice you’re showing signs of burnout is invaluable. Sometimes we don’t see what’s happening as clearly as someone looking from the outside can recognize.
Another important element for me is rest. I have learned enough about myself to know that if I don’t get enough sleep, time to decompress, and hours/days away from the office (and my phone!), I am going to wear down very quickly. If I want to give my best, I have to schedule and protect times to rest and recuperate each week.
The other element that’s essential for me is taking care of my own health. Those of us who tend to overwork can also tend to push aside doctor’s appointments, our mental health, and other health-related needs because we’re just so busy. For me, I have to place my personal health appointments on my work calendar and protect them as a matter of priority. I can’t care for my family or the people in my care at work if I am not taking care of myself.
I’ve learned all these lessons the hard way by making mistakes, but I’m grateful for the lessons I’ve gained. I am a better mother, wife, and leader today because I have developed the tools to avoid burnout.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am honored to be the Executive Director of 510 Foundation in Nashville, Tennessee. We are an organization that strives to love our neighbors in East Nashville and beyond by providing programs for families and community resources through 13 unique ministries. Most of my career has consisted of positions in churches, but this opportunity really excited me as it focused on the work we would do in the community outside the walls of the church.
As I got settled in my position and met with the leaders of each of our ministries, I was struck by how incredible these leaders were. So many of us have ideas and dream of things we could do, but never act on them. This team consists of people of action who are running toward needs in the community by caring for our unhoused neighbors by providing meals, assisting with housing, clothing, and furnishing their new homes when they are able to get off the streets. We provide sports and arts programs, partner with local schools, create conversations around justice issues, and so much more. I was in awe that I was going to have the privilege to work alongside these incredible people who are truly caring for those who are marginalized and overlooked in our community.
One of the really exciting parts of my job is that our work at 510 Foundation leads us to meet and partner with other organizations and leaders in the community. We don’t see each other as competitors, we see each other as people who we have the opportunity to join in a way that increases the effectiveness of both parties. Over time, you begin to see all the good so many people are doing in the city of Nashville and it always inspires me to keep going and to expand our reach as well.
The next big launch for us is a new youth initiative that is part of our Justice Circle ministry. We are going to be piloting a program in one of our local middle schools in 2024 that will focus on social issues, life skills, community service, and mentorship. We are excited to see how this new initiative impacts the students and school partner and have dreams of expanding to other schools and potentially other cities in the years to come.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I find that as I look back, being teachable is one of the most important qualities any leader can have. I can learn something from every person I am with and approaching relationships that way opens the door for learning and growth. I have worked with and for so many different leaders with different styles and ways of approaching problems and I have learned from each one of them. I remember the Project Manager who was brought in to oversee a major renovation at one of the churches where I worked. She was smart and strong and kind and instantly had the respect of everyone in the room. I learned just from watching how she leads and knew that was the kind of leader I wanted to be. I’m grateful for every experience like that I’ve had on my journey.
I also feel that being a listener is invaluable for any leader working with people. Many conflicts can be avoided and much understanding can be found when good listening is involved. I have learned that sometimes when an employee or volunteer or even my son comes to talk to me, they don’t always want me to provide an immediate solution. Often what they really need is to be heard and feel that their thoughts and feelings are valued. That automatically opens the door for more solution-oriented conversations and a building of trust over time.
Another quality that I think is important is the ability to remain calm when things get tense. Inevitably, whether at work or at home, there will be tension from time to time. I have worked with some incredible leaders who are masters at navigating and diffusing tense situations. I always watch them in awe because I tend to wear tension and my feelings in my face and tone of voice. This is not an easy area for me, so I am always working to hone the skill of remaining calm in the midst of tense circumstances. It is one of the most valuable skills any leader can have.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
One of the books that was extremely impactful to me was ‘Start With Why’ by Simon Sinek. It is one of those books I can’t keep on my shelf because every time I buy a new copy I find someone to give it to. In his book, Sinek outlines how successful organizations and businesses keep the ‘why’ at the center of everything they do. The ‘why’ becomes a filter that helps keep an organization focused on their purpose. In any organization, I think there is the temptation to do as much as possible and it’s easy to get spread thin and lose sight of the ‘why.’ This has helped me look at each organization, initiative, or project I work on through the filter of ‘why.’ It is such an incredibly simple and impactful message and I would recommend anyone who leads in any size organization pick it up.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://510foundation.org
- Instagram: @510foundation
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/510foundation
- Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/company/510-foundation/
Image Credits
Photo of Jessica: Shannon Wright
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