Focus On Your Wellbeing to Unlock Your Leadership Effectiveness

Many of today’s conversations about workplace wellbeing spotlight what leaders can do to improve employee wellbeing. While this should be top-of-mind for leaders, we often overlook a crucial cornerstone of being successful in that pursuit. As a leader, your ability to cultivate a culture of wellbeing begins with first nurturing your personal wellbeing. The reason for this is simple. How can you, as the leader, perform at your very best and be in tune with your team’s wellbeing if you are disconnected from your own?

In a recent survey conducted by Deloitte and Workplace Intelligence, they found that “nearly 70% of the C-suite are seriously considering quitting for a job that better supports their well-being.” The statistic is a compelling wake-up call for leaders. Could you be among the 70%?

The daily pressures that come with leadership – delivering results, navigating conflicts and interpersonal dynamics, making impactful decisions – can take a toll on mental health and overall wellbeing. Stress, anxiety, and the burden of responsibility can threaten what you are able to do in your role. Rapidly going through the day-to-day task list without taking time to pause and reflect may even cause you to inadvertently neglect to do those things that help you perform at your best – including focusing on your wellbeing.

Soon enough, overwhelm, disengagement, and overall dissatisfaction can set in. By focusing on your wellbeing however, you can do to unlock your leadership effectiveness, empowering you to not only weather the various storms that come your way but more importantly thrive in your leadership role.

Why it Matters

Investing in your personal wellbeing and mental health is essential to your leadership, and here’s why.

• Enhanced decision-making. By prioritizing your wellbeing, you can think more clearly and make sound, strategic decisions.
• Achieved goals. A healthier, more balanced you can effectively steer your team and organization towards achieving personal, team, and organizational goals.
• Job satisfaction and purpose. When you feel good about your job and understand your unique purpose as a leader, your motivation, passion, and positive impact are amplified.
• Stress management. Investing in your wellbeing equips you with stress and anxiety management tools that will help you navigate leadership challenges with resilience, poise, and the power to self-regulate.
• Strengthened relationships. Personal and professional relationships flourish when you are at your best.
• Holistic health. When you are feeling good mentally, your physical and emotional health follow suit.
• Leadership excellence. Ultimately, a leader who prioritizes personal wellbeing becomes a better, more effective leader, inspiring others around them to do the same.

Three Ways to Invest in Your Personal Wellbeing

To invest in your personal wellbeing and become more effective as a leader, consider the following questions and activities:

• Emotional Check-In. How often do you check in with yourself about how you are feeling? Notice your mood randomly three times per day for the next few days to a week. What emotions have you identified? Are there recurring emotions? Are they aligned with the emotions you want your team to experience? Use the author of Permission to Feel and psychologist Dr. Marc Brackett’s “Mood Meter” found here: https://www.marcbrackett.com/about/mood-meter-app/ to identify and track what you are feeling.
• Take Time Away. Assess the last time you took time off and when your next break is scheduled. If there’s a substantial gap on either side, make plans for a revitalizing three-day weekend to unplug and take some well-deserved time away from work.
• Prioritize Self-Care. Identify three self-care activities that truly rejuvenate you. How quickly can you list them? When was the last time you enjoyed one of these activities? Remember, self-care isn’t drinking a glass of wine or eating your favorite fried food; it’s essential daily practices like staying hydrated, reading a good book, or connecting with loved ones.

If you would like to learn more tools, resources, and strategies to maximize your leadership effectiveness, reach out. We help leaders of Fortune 500 companies and national organizations better understand the actions they can take that work best for themselves, their teams, and their organizations. Contact us to learn more about our executive coaching opportunities and Leadership Evolution Program at [email protected]. We will talk soon.