In this expert column, we’re exploring self-care in leadership – AKA, how to take care of yourself when you’re used to putting everyone and everything else first
Look at some of the top leadership traits and you’ll see an impressive list of qualities; dependable, decisive, innovative, risk-taking, solutions-focused, confident, and empathetic, to name a few. Leaders are the people we depend on in both our professional and personal lives, and it’s due to these qualities that many of us look to leaders for a sense of security, direction, and stability.
Some of the most revered leaders have a sense of duty, often to the point of selflessness – think Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. These great leaders may be exceptional examples, but I’m sure we can think of people in our day-to-day lives who exude such admirable qualities as well. However, what happens on the other side of that coin, when empathy, a sense of duty, and responsibility for others’ welfare comes at the expense of a leader’s own wellbeing?
Many of the people I work with, as a nutritional therapist and wellness coach, are leaders in their careers, and leaders in their businesses. Irrespective of the initial health issue that needs attention, a common area that comes up in the course of our working together, in addition to nutrition, is self-care, stress management, and sleep.
According to Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, a record 12.6% of UK adults were in the first three months of running a business or were already running a new business in 2021 – the highest figure since the study was first conducted in 1999. With the rise of the side hustle, and the number of people starting businesses at an unprecedented high, it naturally follows that stress and fatigue may feature, and that self-care falls to the back of the to-do list. Look online and you’ll see content on both productivity and toxic productivity, but less on self-care as a leader. Whatever side of the fence you sit on, it’s true to say that being a leader at work, or the leader of a new business, comes with putting other things before yourself, often to the detriment of long-term health and wellbeing.
So how can leaders, particularly those with a side hustle or new business, support their health and wellbeing?
Plan to eat well
When the days are long and the calendar is longer, it’s unlikely that cooking up a nutritious meal is at the top of your priority list at the end of a busy day. Temptation and availability make it easy to grab and go, or to order in, while some people may skip meals altogether. Being tired, and hungry in addition, means that we’re less likely to make the best choices. Save yourself the brain power and plan what you’ll eat in advance. I advise my clients to take a realistic look at their diaries. If it’s showing a distinct lack of time for cooking, it may be worth meal planning in advance, including deciding what you’ll eat, where you’ll get your dish from, and being confident that it’ll provide a balanced meal option. This might mean meal prepping ahead of time, using a meal delivery service, or having a go-to list of restaurants that you can rely on to provide balanced meals when you’re in a rut.
Sleep well
In need of some career guidance? Here we look at some of the options available so you can find the right support for you
For many of us, we spend a great deal of our lives at work. For some it’s a calling they feel passionately about, for others it’s simply a way to fund their time away from work. Whichever camp you fall into, being unhappy at work can take its toll.
Feeling that sense of dread in the pit of your stomach as you think about the day ahead, knowing you’re either going to be bored, stressed or anxious at work, is a tough thing to experience. Perhaps you know what’s at the root of it and what needs to change, perhaps you don’t.
Maybe you don’t have that sense of dread, instead you feel restless. You don’t know what you want out of your career, you just know it’s… not this.
You may have started exploring your options already. Looking on job sites to see if anything jumps out at you or speaking to your manager about your unhappiness. Maybe you know you need to do some work on yourself to improve things at work, or maybe you’re fully aware you are not the problem.
Wherever you are, if you’re feeling stuck, lost and unsure how to move forward, you could benefit from professional support. Sometimes we need a guide to show us the way, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of. Let’s look at some options you could explore here.
Career counselling - could a counsellor help with your career?
Typically we think of counsellors and therapists as people we go to when we’re struggling with our mental health, perhaps after a diagnosis of a condition like depression, for example. While this is of course true, counsellors can support in a range of different areas, including your career.
In this video BACP accredited therapist Caroline Plumer explains more about career counselling, the common reasons you may seek support and how to find a therapist who can help you.
If your mental health has been affected by work, or your mental health is affecting work, speaking to a counsellor could be beneficial. They can help you better understand what’s happening and help you manage the situation. This may mean making changes in your work life, or even discussing what’s happening with colleagues, if you feel comfortable doing so. It could also mean making a decision to leave your role and finding something that better supports your mental health.
Career counsellors can also help you to build resilience, navigate difficult conversations and relationships at work, and build confidence. They may also be able to support you with workplace bullying, work-related stress and low self-esteem, making work an easier place to be.
Career coaching - how can coaching support your career?
Career coaching is another option you may want to consider. The