Take Care of Yourself: Take Care of Others

Great leadership (and yes, I'm saying it again) is a selfless task.  Your concern  and your responsibility is your team.

Which brings us to this:   if you don't take care of yourself, you won't be able to take adequate care of others.    Here then are a few gentle reminders on how to be at the best you can be.

Are you centered?    Is your life balanced?   Life spent on the extremes is life on the edge - and not in a good way.  If you envision your life "heading on down the highway" are you in the right lane?

Are you happy?   Happiness is not over-rated.    To be content. . . to be happy is a blessing that all should have.  It is essential not only to a good life. . .but to great leadership.  (If you aren't happy - neither is your team).

Do you need time with just you?  There are points in my life when I just need to make all of the noise stop so that I can listen to myself.      At those times, I seek solitude.   It may be on a walk.  It may be in an empty church.   It may even be on a car ride.  That time, spent just sorting things out, is incredibly worthwhile and makes the time I then spend with others so much more worthwhile.

Conversely, do you need time with friends?  Sometimes that best way to listen to yourself. . . is to hear yourself talking with really good friends.   Laughter, compassion and just gentle conversation are great remedies.

Healthy?  Good food, eaten well, feeds not just the body but the soul as well.    Good rest makes us sharper and more relaxed.   Good exercise makes us feel better, releases tension and builds a stronger body.   All of these are essential for strong leader.

And while life is complicated, taking care of ourselves is really that simple.   By  prioritizing self-care. . . we can then be selfless by taking better care of those we care about.

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My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available for e-readers, PCs and tablets on Amazon Kindle.