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Why Leaders Need to Take Care of Themselves Like They Do Their Teams
Leaders are members of teams, despite also being bosses. And as hard as leaders work to remind their staff about self-care, it remains a significant area of improvement for them. For one thing, leaders are trained to put their needs on the back burner. This means ignoring or dismissing telltale signs of burnout or fatigue. With the past few years adding more stress to everyone’s plates, bosses are routinely putting their own needs aside to ensure the well-being of their staff and the health of their businesses. There is also enormous pressure to work nonstop. When Americans claim they have never taken a sick day, it is a badge of honor. There is also a fear that the department will fall apart if the boss leaves for a significant period. Old-school rules dictate that leaders shouldn’t need time for themselves and shouldn’t act like part of a team because they are in a superior role for a reason. The truth is that team leaders are team members, albeit not individual contributors. If they do their job correctly, the team should be able to function perfectly fine without them, only asking for help when issues arise. Therefore, if a leader needs a mental health break, there is