Leaders Need to Prioritize Self-Care

Enough has been said about the last 16-months and the fear, uncertainty and doubt that you have had to lead through. So many unknowns. So many questions as to when things will be back to ‘normal’. And, what will normal even look like.

The Past 16-Months

You have been like a warrior, leading through all of the uncertainty; putting your team, your customers and your business ahead of yourself.

COVID has changed the world. It has also changed us as individual leaders. Some leaders I speak with have gained weight, some have lost weight, some have become experts at wine (or drinking wine), some have started a new hobby, most are working harder than ever going from one ‘Zoom’ meeting to another – starting earlier in the day and working later into the evening.

The one common thing I am seeing across the board though is the lack of focus on taking care of ourselves.

Moving Forward

Now, it’s time to refocus and get into the mindset of ‘putting your own mask on first’. Just like the airline safety briefing, you as a leader are no good to anyone else at home, or on your team, if you are not at your best.

As the COVID pandemic ‘seems’ to be becoming closer to being ‘controlled’, time has come to get back to focusing on being authentic to yourself and doing what the best high performing leaders in the world do. Here is my list that all high performing leaders that are at the top of their game do:

1. Hydrate. The top athletes and leaders in the world drink lots of water.  Starting upon waking in the morning, they drink water all day. They do not drink soda pop. They do not drink any beverage sweetened with artificial sweetener.
2. Nutrition. We make our living with our brains and top athletes all take their nutrition as seriously as their workouts. Leaders should be no different.
3. Rest. COVID lockdowns have interrupted normal routines and leaders I work with have really seen their sleep patterns destroyed. Routine when it comes to sleep is all about discipline.
4. Move. Our bodies are meant to move. And movement means different things to different people; however, moving keeps healthy brain chemicals at their optimal level which allows us to think more clearly and more critically.
5. Learn. Leaders need to be reading or listening to a book all the time.

Getting back to putting your own mask on first will get your leadership practice back on track and deliver better value to your family, friends, team, customers and business. Period.

Robert Murray is a Vancouver, BC based Business Strategy Consultant, #1 Best Selling Author, International Keynote Speaker, and TEC Top Speaker of the Year for 2018. For further advice, insight and inspiration on how to unlock your inner leader, follow Robert on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

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