Building Better Leaders
Over the past decade, I’ve collaborated with hundreds of C-suite executives. Through our conversations, I’ve noticed a troubling trend: today’s leaders prioritise career success over everything else, including their wellbeing.
This decision comes at a price. Stressors like divorce, strained relationships with children, insomnia and other health crises all add to the overwhelm of maintaining high-pressure careers. Of the many executives I’ve spoken with over the years, an overwhelming number of them expressed feelings of dissatisfaction and loss.
The corporate world doesn’t have a productivity problem—it’s a wellness problem
Overdoing it in one area of your life leaves very little energy and focus for everything else. It leads to burnout, sickness, and, eventually, a sharp decline in performance. In short, it’s unsustainable.
And the effects aren’t just felt on a personal level: failure to view work and life through a lens of mindfulness and wellbeing can have a lasting impact on every part of a leader’s organisation.
Holistic corporate cultures don’t happen by accident
Meaningful change starts at the top. Focusing on personal wellbeing is one of the best things leaders can do for themselves, their families, and their companies. Leading by example turns corporate culture initiatives from aspirational to attainable, improving morale and bringing people together.
As more and more organisations strive to resume regular operations post-pandemic, a focus on wellbeing in the workplace is more important than ever. Employees are starting to lose faith in their company’s ability to prioritise employee wellness and satisfaction. Wellbeing-focused initiatives can hugely affect productivity and happiness, creating organisations that attract and retain high performers.
And it all starts with building better leaders.
It’s time for leaders to take the first step
You don’t need a Wellness Director on staff to start working on leadership wellbeing. Here are a few ways to integrate leadership wellbeing into your personal and organisational goals:
● Work 1:1 with a consultant to develop strategies and habits that promote balance, awareness, and accountability
● Invite a leadership expert to speak on the topic at your next leadership retreat
● Design internal campaigns centred around physical and mental health
● Collaborate with an expert to incorporate wellbeing into management training methods
● Audit your company policies to ensure employees can build boundaries that give them a better work-life balance
● Survey your employees to gauge overall satisfaction and identify growth opportunities
Overall, the benefits of creating a healthy workplace culture far outweigh any growing pains or tough changes. As a leader, that change starts with you.