In the dynamic world of business, a leader dreams of making optimal decisions, inspiring the team to act and leading the company to success. However, it happens that they often forget about their own wellbeing, although taking care of it is not a matter of luxury, but a necessity. Why is that? Because taking care of the physical and mental health or inner peace of a leader brings measurable benefits to the entire organisation and is a strategic investment in its future.
A leader in the face of pressure and stress
A leader is a key person in any organisation, on whom the direction and pace of operational activities and their final success depend. In a world of constant pressure, quick decisions and huge responsibility, the leader’s wellbeing is often off the radar. This is a mistake that can be very costly not only for the leader themselves, but also for the entire company.
Wellbeing is an individual sense of contentment, fulfillment and satisfaction with life. It consists of six interrelated areas, namely physical health, mental health, inner peace, comfort of life, relationships with others, and contact with nature.Taking care of wellbeing is extremely important, because its level affects motivation, efficiency and creativity.
In an increasing number of companies, leaders are implementing solutions to build the wellbeing of the team, but they often forget about their own one. Meanwhile, a high level of wellbeing of managers translates, among other things, into better team management and company results. What is more, wellbeing is variable, so working on all its areas requires constant attention and appropriate amount of time.
Challenges of a leader in the workplace
Every day, a leader fulfills a number of responsibilities that require not only management skills, but also great mental resilience. Here are the main challenges faced by a person in an executive position:
Time pressure and difficult decisions – a leader often makes key decisions under pressure, based on incomplete information.
Conflict management – this requires the leader to have interpersonal skills, knowledge of mediation techniques and strategic thinking.
Constant adaptation to change – the need to keep up with new trends on the market and improve leadership competences.
Coping with stress – high expectations and a sense of loneliness increase the risk of occupational burnout.
Life balance – long working hours and difficulties in separating private and professional lives are some of the risks affecting, among others, mental and physical health and inner peace.
Why should a leader care about their wellbeing?
The wellbeing of executives – be it the head of a company, a senior manager or a team leader – is not a matter of luxury, but a necessity. It is the foundation which the success of the entire organisation is built upon. A leader in good psychical and mental shape:
Has greater mental and physical resilience – a high level of wellbeing translates into better physical and mental health. A leader is less susceptible to illness, takes sick leave less often and has more energy to act on a daily basis.
Makes more accurate decisions – taking care of mental balance is a guarantee of analytical thinking and seeing the bigger picture. A leader who cares about their wellbeing is able to assess potential opportunities and risks much better, which translates into better decisions for the company.
Manages the team more effectively and motivates employees – a leader with a high level of wellbeing has more energy and patience. They are able to listen more carefully, empathise with and inspire others to act, which directly contributes to greater commitment and higher efficiency of the entire team.
Is more creative and innovative – a calm mind is a mind open to new ideas. A leader who cares about their wellbeing has more space for creative thinking and looking for innovative solutions.
Better copes with stress and challenges – a high level of wellbeing is associated with greater mental resilience. Such a leader is able to maintain a calm and clear mind even in crisis situations, which is crucial for the operational stability of the organisation.
Is a positive role model for employees – meaning thatthe leader inspires others to behave in a similar way. As a result, they create an organisational culture in which a collaborative mindset and concern for the health of the team is the norm.
Achieves better business results – all of the above factors result in better business results. A company with leaders who attach considerable importance to their wellbeing is more likely to be successful in the long term.
Neglecting one’s own wellbeing by a leader can have serious consequences. On an individual level, this can ultimately lead to deterioration of health and burnout. A leader in such a state makes wrong decisions and loses the ability to inspire others, which can negatively affect the morale of the entire team. In extreme cases, the result can be a leadership crisis and destabilisation of the company. Therefore, caring for the wellbeing of leaders should be treated as a strategic investment in the future of the organisation, and not as an additional, optional benefit.
How Can a Leader Take Care of Their Wellbeing?
Here are some key tips for a person in an executive position:
regularly monitor your level of wellbeing and identify areas for improvement,
set clear boundaries between work and private life,
delegate tasks and learn effective time management,
ensure healthy sleep, diet and physical activity,
practice stress reduction techniques, e.g. meditation or mindfulness,
develop your soft skills, e.g. emotional intelligence,
build a support network – talk to other leaders, take advantage of coaching.
Tools to support wellbeing
Leaders now have a number of tools at their disposal to take care of their wellbeing. The first step to improving wellbeing is its reliable assessment. The Wellbeing Score tool, available on the MultiLife platform as well as in the form of a free online survey, allows you to measure wellbeing in six key areas. This makes it possible to identify aspects that require special attention and use expert recommendations.
After receiving the recommendations, leaders can use a range of content and tools offered by the MultiLife platform, such as online courses, online consultations with experts, a library of e-books and audiobooks, or e-learning applications.
Taking regular Wellbeing Score surveys allows you to monitor changes in the level of wellbeing over time and assess effectiveness of the actions taken. Systematic measurement of wellbeing enables you to improve the leader’s quality of life at the individual level and create a culture of wellbeing throughout the organisation, which translates into measurable business benefits.
