HERO MAKER | DAVE FERGUSON

 

No leader ever wakes up and says, “Today I’m going to drift.”

Drift is always accidental. It’s subtle. Quiet. Unannounced. And if we don’t notice it early, it takes us somewhere we never intended to go—often not a good place.

I’m writing this as a confession.

 

Over the last two weeks, I’ve drifted.

 

I took on a new role. My calendar filled up fast. I’d been on the road more than usual—airports, rental cars, hotel rooms, late nights, early mornings. None of that is bad in itself. In fact, much of it has been meaningful and mission-driven. But somewhere along the way, the disciplines that usually anchor me started to loosen.

 

My physical gauge has been blinking red. I’m a runner, or at least I say I am. But my Strava tells the truth. It’s been idle. 

 

My spiritual gauge hasn’t been much better. Journaling has slipped. Time in Scripture has been rushed or skipped. I’ve still been doing ministry—teaching, leading, encouraging others—but I haven’t been receiving in the same way.

 

That’s drift.

 

Drift Happens Quietly.

 

Here’s what I’ve learned about drift:

 

• You don’t drift into health.
• You don’t drift into depth.
• You don’t drift into intimacy with God or others.
• You drift toward depletion.

 

In my soon-to-be-released book Multiplier, I describe four internal gauges every leader must regularly check: Relational, Physical, Mental, and Spiritual (RPMS). These gauges don’t determine whether you’re busy or productive. They reveal whether you’re healthy. And health is what sustains long-term fruitfulness.

 

The danger isn’t that leaders drift. The danger is that we drift and don’t notice. The good news? Drift is reversible—if caught early.

 

That’s why I’m actually grateful I noticed my drift after two weeks, not two years. Awareness creates opportunity. And tools create traction. The RPMS gives leaders a simple, honest way to course-correct before drift becomes damage.

 

Leadership doesn’t require perfection; it requires attentiveness.

 

Four Gauges of Leader Health

 

Before you lead your church this week, I want to invite you to pause and ask yourself a few hard questions—not to shame you, but to serve you.

 

Relational Gauge

• Who really knows how I’m doing right now?
• Have my closest relationships been fueled—or neglected—by my leadership pace?
• Am I present with the people I love, or just physically nearby?

 

Physical Gauge

• Is my body being stewarded or spent?
• What habits have I dropped that once gave me energy and resilience?
• If my current pace continues, where will my health be in six months?

 

Mental Gauge

• Is my mind clear or cluttered?
• Am I carrying anxiety, fatigue or decision overload that I haven’t named?
• When was the last time I created space to think, not just react?

 

Spiritual Gauge

• Am I abiding with Jesus—or just working for him?
• Is Scripture shaping me, or am I only engaging it to shape sermons?
• What spiritual practices have quietly slipped?

 

Drift doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human. But leaders who multiply impact are leaders who notice drift early—and choose to course-correct intentionally.