When you are charged with leading a faith community, there are a lot of strengths you must be able to demonstrate. In addition to having good basic organizational skills, such as time management and goal setting, you must also know how to delegate tasks to the people best suited to carry them out. Since running any organization involves a broad range of duties, it makes sense to recruit a diverse staff and volunteer team.

Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs) tend to react more strongly to sensory stimuli, such as light, sound and physical cues. They may also be more emotionally sensitive and may be more prone to anxiety and depression. With some of these personal challenges, however, come some unique qualities that are likely to be advantageous to your church's leadership team. Some of the traits that seem to come naturally to HSPs are valuable and hard to teach to others.

Empathic

Sensory sensitivity in a world full of noise can be exhausting. It is even more so for HSPs when others don't seem to understand the impact that their environment has on them or why they can't just get past it. This experience often brings a keen awareness of other people's struggles. They tend to pick up on the emotions of others, particularly when people are suffering.

In fact, the more familiar they become with the people in your congregation, the faster they are likely to be able to read the tone of the room. This is a very helpful skill. You may know something's wrong but not be able to put your finger on exactly what is going on. The HSP on your team can address issues with compassion and mercy before anyone else even realizes there's a problem.

Self-Aware

For most HSPs, their whole lives are a series of being told they are overreacting to situations that others seem to handle with ease. While this experience can be frustrating for them in the moment, many of them choose to use the information for self-reflection and growth. Their focus turns to the impact of their actions rather than just the intentions they know are behind them.

One of the social benefits of self-awareness is an openness to learn. HSPs are usually quite teachable, and they tend to seek out new information on their own. They want their intentions to come across clearly and work hard to make sure this happens. They not only take instruction well but also serve as good resources when you want to make more informed decisions for the church.

Insightful

Religious communities are not often known for their eagerness to change, but sometimes adopting a new practice or perspective is necessary to serve the community better. The understanding that HSPs have to offer can be instrumental in helping any organizational change go more smoothly. Their insight is valuable when dealing with sensitive topics:

• Addressing institutional racism or sexism
• Including LGBTQIA+ members in leadership
• Allocating more of the budget to serve the poor

The empathy born of being misunderstood (and thus ostracized) in their own lives gives HSPs unique insight into the similar experiences of others. They can help bridge the gap between the privileged and the oppressed. Their excellent observational skills help them identify early warning signs in potentially contentious meetings so that they don't get out of control.

Having at least one HSP on your leadership team is a smart move. Others may disregard them for their challenges, but the strength and grace that often grow out of that adversity are well worth any initial personality clashes that may occur. Once you and the rest of the team adjust to ensure that you are not having a negative impact on them, you are likely to be amazed at how much they help you thrive.