Self-care is not optional in the world of leadership.

Regularly now, people are discussing with me their strategic goals and plans for 2020 and 2021. Some are even willing to explore all the way out to 2022. They all recognize that this level of thinking is complicated and complex. For many, it is an in-depth exercise into thinking through a variety of scenarios and possible problems before they actually become problems.

And in the midst of this big picture thinking, I am the one who asks a different question: If it all works out according to your best thinking, there is a phenomenal amount of work to be done. So, what are you going to do as a leader so you don’t burn-out? 

High amounts of stress comes with aggressive strategic growth and change. Burn-out is common and very difficult to recover from. Self-care is not optional if you want to be successful over time.

Many leaders have thought through all the details related to goals and objectives, leading and lagging metrics, systems’ improvements and changes, reorganizations at the structural level and the need for cultural continuity. However, many have not through how to cope with the volume and complexity of the work. 

The upshot is that many leaders will do whatever it takes to “win” at work. Yet, most have not thought through the costs to them personally. They will make it happen at work and start loosing more and more at home. Their marriages begin to crumble due to lack of care. Their friendships with others outside the family start to vanish because there is little time for being a friend. Their children start to feel like they are a burden or just one more project being managed. 

And finally, the health and well being of these leaders starts to suffer, too. With lack of exercise and continued poor eating, their health becomes a roller coaster of stress induced illnesses and symptoms. Finally, it all implodes and becomes one big mess on so many different levels.

That is why the question, “what are you going to do as a leader so you don’t burn-out?”, is such an important question. Before life goes to pieces, it is time to sit down, to define some boundaries around work, and to figure out what is a reasonable and realistic self-care plan. Good health, physically, mentally, socially and spiritually, is not optional if you want to be an excellent leader during challenging times.

Geery Howe, M.A. Consultant, Executive Coach, Trainer in Leadership, Strategic Planning and Organizational Change Morning Star Associates 319 - 643 - 2257