We began a discussion earlier about saying “no.” We also discussed how important it is or was to take care of yourself. If there is one thing I am sure of, leaders often tend to neglect their sanity. We take on the “pain” of our employees, bosses, environment and forget that our pain is just as important. We neglect our health for those around us and the good of the organization.
Frost and Robinson in The Leader as Toxin Handler argued that a leader is a bridge between senior leadership and those below. They deliver messages and information that others could take negatively from their bosses. However, their focus is on the environment of toxicity.
To take their concept one step further, I would argue that we go beyond toxic environments. Leaders take on the organizations’ stresses, anxieties, and pain. They are sounding boards for their employees and their bosses. They are the go-between departments when needed.
What I have yet to see (at least in my experience) is a place where the leader can let go—a place or opportunity to allow the organization’s pains to fall. This, of course, goes back to the idea of self-leadership and self-care. However, I also want to ensure that we “executives” recognize that our leaders (you know, the one you are training, mentoring, and molding) give that opportunity, space, or ability.
Just as you need self-leadership and self-care, so does the guy you go to—the one leader who can get anything done. Make sure you are paying attention to them as well. While they may appear to be superwoman/men, they too need a release.
