This is the KEY metric that leaders are neglecting
You may be aware that I ran the London Marathon on April 27th. It was a phenomenal experience, and yet it was so very hard - both on the day, and in parts, the training. Taking care of our physical and mental health is so often like this. It doesn’t naturally feel easy or good, but is ultimately good for us! And our leadership.
From my academic research I know that leaders who prioritise their physical and mental well-being are better equipped to inspire and guide their teams (Lucey & Burke, 2022). However, in my experience of working with thousands of well-meaning leaders it’s often a key factor that’s overlooked or even detrimentally neglected by leaders. Here’s 5 ways that your health will positively impact your ability to lead:
Increased energy and stamina. Which enables leaders to handle the demands of their role more effectively.
Dialled up resilience. Mental health is equally crucial; leaders who manage stress well and maintain a positive outlook can better navigate challenges and support their teams.
Healthy role model. Leaders who model healthy behaviours set a standard for their teams, encouraging them to prioritise their own well-being.
Protect against burnout. When someone feels burned out, they can’t function professionally to their full capacity. If they continue to push themselves at work despite experiencing burnout, they run the risk of developing depression or anxiety. Unfortunately, the prevalence of burnout that we’ve witnessed first hand in many business is backed up in this 2021 study by Lean.in & McKinsey. They found that 49% of women in senior leadership roles reported feeling burned out, and 38% of men.
Protect your teams. Another interesting research study found evidence that leaders who experience high levels of stress can negatively shape their employees' own well-being, which negatively links their own stress levels with their employees’ (Skakon et al. 2010).
So why do we find it so difficult to bump our health up the priority list?
“I was feeling ill but I’m too busy, so had to push through on this occasion…”
“I have a niggling pain in my back that I keep ignoring because I don’t have time to deal with it.”
“I’m feeling stressed but I can’t relax until this project is over… once this project is over I’ll have more time so it will be OK.”
“I’m working into the night; there’s just not enough time in the day but I feel exhausted.”
Recognise any of these? If you can’t relate you can probably add your own! Having coached and supported thousands of leaders at CLPL I’ve heard a lot of ways that leaders can neglect their health. Of course, there are times where we need to put the shoulder to the wheel (it certainly has felt like this for us at CLPL this past month!)... but making this the norm only undermines our performance. It’s a paradox that often our brain fails to overcome (and in our case tricks us regularly!).
