Setting a Wellness Example

When it comes to leadership, setting an example is a key objective. 

Taking care of yourself in a COVID world is essential for today’s leaders. Caring for yourself is not only important mentally but also physically. 

Mental Wellness

If you were to describe today’s leaders, they would be mentally strong as well as physically capable. 

Leaders today must have an open mind, a good intuition, and a sense of well-being about themselves. They may run into varying opinions, perspectives, and outlooks. Mental wellness is as much about caring, showing empathy, and compassion as it is anything. To create a culture that your team wants to work in, everyone must at least have the ability to be heard, contribute and give their two cents. 

This means today’s leader must be able to showcase a variety of skills regarding prevention, coping with life’s adversities, and being resilient in the face of stress, worry, loneliness, and a wide range of emotions including anger and sadness.  

Physical Wellness

Not only should today’s leader be mentally sharp but also physically ready. Working out or staying in good health should be at the top of their priority list. Wellness combines all facets of wellness - rest, sleep, self-care, visiting their medical team or alternate practitioners, nutrition, and supplementation. A leader who is run down, sick, and in poor health will not be able to effectively lead in today’s ever-changing environment. 

So how does today’s leader set the example for things that they may be doing on their time? Perhaps they exercise before/after work, supplement or do food prep at home, or handle all their visits to the doctor, dentist, chiropractor, etc around work hours.

They set the example by talking to their team about great wellness care so that they can show up and perform at their best while at work. It might come up if someone is missing a lot of work. The leader can ask about that teammate's wellness plan and encourage them to do things that may be missing. 

Today’s leader leads both mentally and physically. Perhaps you are the leader - encourage a healthy lifestyle and lead the way through your interactions with your team. 

Best, 

Manal