Self-Care for Leaders: Prioritizing Your Well-Being While Leading Others
Leadership can be as rewarding as it is exhausting - kind of like running a marathon in a suit. With the pressure to perform, make tough decisions, and guide others, it's no wonder that leaders can feel emotionally drained. That's why self-care is crucial. But let's be real, self-care isn't just about treating yourself to a spa day or taking a long weekend (although those are nice). It's about prioritizing your well-being to show up as your best self and lead effectively. So, in this blog post, we'll share practical tips on self-care for leaders that go beyond bubble baths and binge-watching Netflix.
Acknowledge the Emotional Labor of Leadership
Leadership requires a huge amount of emotional intelligence and empathy. You are responsible for guiding, supporting, and even challenging your team members while also managing your own emotions. It can be exhausting to keep up with this emotional labor, which is why self-compassion is crucial. You need to give yourself permission to feel and acknowledge your emotions without judgment, just like you would for your team members.
So, take a moment to check in with yourself and offer yourself the same compassion and kindness that you would give to others. Remember, by taking care of yourself, you are also taking care of your team, creating an atmosphere of psychological safety at work. Additionally, providing training and resources to leaders within your organization can equip them to handle difficult situations, rather than always turning to you for guidance.
Set Boundaries (Especially in a Remote Work World)
With remote work becoming increasingly popular, it's easy to fall into the trap of never truly disconnecting from work. The flexibility and autonomy that it offers can quickly blur the lines between your desk and your kitchen table. As a leader, it's essential to be firm with your boundaries and prevent burnout by maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Set clear working hours and communicate them to your team. This will ensure that you have time for yourself and your personal life outside of work, which will ultimately make you a more effective leader. It will also put your team at ease – lead by example and show your employees that taking care of yourself is the most productive thing you can do.
Practice Positive Intelligence and Regulate Your Emotions
Shirzad Chamine is a renowned lecturer, advisor, and author of the New York Times bestselling book, Positive Intelligence. His insights into how our mind can either be our greatest ally or worst enemy were a real game-changer for me, and his practices have become an essential part of my executive coaching approach. While I won't delve into some of the deeper concepts like internal saboteurs in this blog post, I do want to highlight one of the more transformative aspects of Positive Intelligence – habits.
Chamine's emphasis on habits and consistent mental exercises throughout the day has the potential to significantly improve our mental health, emotional wellbeing, and self-care. We all recognize the importance of practices like meditation, grounding, and focus, but often struggle to implement them consistently. Positive Intelligence provides a framework to do just that, making it a practical and effective tool for personal growth.
Importance of a Support Network
As a leader, you don't have to go through tough times alone. It's okay to ask for help and lean on your support network when you need guidance, advice, or just someone to listen. Take a moment to ask yourself: who are the three people you can talk to when you're struggling? If you don't have a support network, start cultivating relationships with colleagues, friends, family members, or various mentors who can be there for you. Having a strong support network can help you manage stress, maintain perspective, and ultimately be a more empathetic and effective leader. So make time for social connections and prioritize these important relationships.
In Conclusion: Self-Care is Vital
Leading others can be a challenging and rewarding experience, but it's important to prioritize your well-being as a leader. By acknowledging the emotional labor of leadership, setting boundaries, practicing positive intelligence, and cultivating a support network, you can take care of yourself while also leading others effectively. Remember, taking care of yourself isn't selfish; it's essential to being the best leader you can be.
Meridith Marshall is the CEO and Founder of Uncharted Way and has seen firsthand how people and organizations can navigate the most difficult of circumstances with clarity and openness to improve employee experience and culture in their workplace. She is an industry-recognized expert in using a data-driven approach, and is an Interaction Associates trained facilitator and certified Co-Active coach.