Professional Self-Care: Keeping Yourself Sane While Taking Care of Your Team's Needs
The importance of self-care has become more evident in recent years as business leaders navigated the effects of the pandemic, an economic downturn, and a talent/hiring crisis. While we've always been told to "put on our own masks before helping others," self-care is last on many leaders' never-ending to-do lists, especially in times of stress. Is this you?
The Fifth Competency of Emotional Intelligence?
Starling Training teaches managers to use Emotional Intelligence (EI) when leading teams. According to Harvard Business Review, EI is "the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, as well as recognize and influence the emotions of those around you." By using these techniques, you lead your team with empathy and inclusivity. There are four core competencies in EI that managers must be proficient in:
Self-awareness
Self-management
Social awareness
Relationship management
However, DI’s Global Leadership Forecast 2021 found that 86% of high-potential leaders are at risk of burnout. While self-awareness gets you halfway to self-care (you know you need something), self-management is all about managing your reactions and emotions and maintaining a positive outlook for your team. This could lead to ignoring your own needs and not taking care of yourself.
An emotionally intelligent manager will not show good self-management or be a good leader if they ignore their own needs. So perhaps a fifth competency for self-care needs to be added to the EI structure.
Discovering Self-Care in Mindful Manager Training
One of the modules of our Mindful Manager Training program focuses on how to maximize your time and energy when you're wearing three hats at work. You are responsible for managing others, being an individual contributor yourself, and simply existing as a human being in today's challenging world.
During these training sessions, our cohorts brainstormed many amazing tips to take care of themselves so they could show up for their reports and coworkers. We just had to share.
Time Management Tips for Managers
It's a given; there will never be enough time to get everything done. But you can be more strategic with how you manage your time and your team's time with these tips:
Protect your focused time (even for personal tasks). For example, block out time on your calendar for morning rituals.
Set boundaries to give yourself time for what you need, even if that means you miss other commitments.
Practice saying "No." and "I have a commitment." more often
Ask for time to process or step away when you need it - “I know this is important, but I’m not in the right place to deal with it right now. Can we do it at another time?”
Be as ruthless with your time as you are generous
Block time on your calendar for deep work tasks.
Turn off your phone notifications.
Keep a journal or daily log to record your thoughts and feelings.
Build a short morning reflection time into your schedule.
Take time at the end of the day to review what you need to prioritize in the morning and to block time for specific tasks.
Stack meetings into one day or afternoon.
Build relaxing or fun activities into your weekly routine to "mentally reset."
Only use one 3x5 to make your list of things to do
Energy Management Tips for Managers
Leading a team can be exhausting. You cannot be your best self when you are physically and emotionally spent. Here are some tips our cohorts have come up with to conserve and regenerate energy during stressful times.
Structure breaks to get up from your desk and move around throughout your day.
Take care of your body with plenty of sleep, good nutrition, caffeine detox, regular exercise, etc.)
Schedule regular family time and make sure your team knows you are not to be disturbed.
Create calming and/or invigorating mantras.
Set up a work environment that is beautiful and energizing.
Schedule walking meetings or move around at the beginning of meetings.
Be self-aware, name and claim your feelings.
Call a timeout and take a break when you need it.
Take time off in January through March when there are no holidays.
On a long weekend, take the extra Monday off.
Remember to take lunch, and don't feel guilty about watching mindless YouTube videos while you do it.
Avoid micro-scheduling. Do small tasks within calendar gaps. Checking items off your to-do list is energy-boosting.
Don't use your mind as a storage device. Instead, record all vital information in a notebook or online notes app.
Create an end-of-day ritual to transition from work to downtown, perhaps taking a walk.
Take a fun mid-day break for video games or a dance party.
Schedule a weekend where you don’t do anything social.
Pet animals or spend time with your animal friends.
Dress up for work even if you work from home.
These tips will help you feel more present in the moment and for your team. These small things can make a huge difference in how you lead, and your team performs.
Three things that work for me:
As a busy business owner and leader, I've found these rituals and practices help.
"Defensive calendaring." When I agree to take on a project or assignment, I immediately book time in my own calendar to focus on that work. I honor these time commitments to do deep work as much as I honor client meetings.
Dogs. Really. They force me to take breaks, get outside and talk to strangers in my neighborhood as I walk them. Plus, the dog/oxytocin connection is real - science says so!
Silence in nature. I take a walk each morning without earbuds. I listen to the world around me and just breathe.
Leading with empathy can be stressful and exhausting for any manager. Our Mindful Manager training teaches managers to lead their teams with consistent and deliberate communication, connection, and empathy. It also teaches managers to take care of themselves so that every team member (including themselves) thrives. I hope these tips for self-care our cohorts have discovered through our sessions help you keep yourself healthy and sane.
If you’d like to invest in your greatest asset and set your managers up for success, contact me today to schedule a discovery call about our Mindful Manager Training Program.