At CityLead, we often talk about the importance of leading yourself before you can lead anyone else. The same applies to emotional health. If you, as a leader, have issues in your life that you haven’t dealt with, eventually, they will trickle down and affect how you do your job, your team, and your customers.
Five Characteristics of Emotionally Unhealthy Leaders
1. They have low self-awareness.
Self-awareness can be developed by simply taking time to evaluate yourself, your emotions, and by putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, considering how what you say and do affects others.
2. They don’t face the issues of their past.
We all have shadows in our past, no matter how great our lives have been. Until we deal with them, we can’t lead others effectively in the present, or lead happy and healthy lives.
3. They are overworked.
Taking on more than you can handle is sustainable for a short time. But in the long run, it leads to burnout.
4. They lack work/rest rhythms.—They’re married to their job.
When we consistently take time to rest and recharge, we will be far more successful in everything we do. Well-rested leaders lead healthy teams that can accomplish anything.
5. They think what they do is more important than who they are.
When our identity gets wrapped up in what we do, the pressure to succeed becomes even greater. Because if we don’t, our sense of self-worth goes down the drain.
Ultimately, to be successful in business as an emotionally healthy leader, you must learn to balance three important dimensions:
- “I” You, as the individual, and your hopes, dreams, concerns, and needs.
- “We” the team, and your collective aspirations, interests, and potential conflicts.
- “It” the purpose of your organization, your mission, tasks, direction, and goals.
If we want to make our cities better places to live, work, worship, and raise a family, we must first take care of ourselves and our emotional health. Because we can’t accomplish our purpose together unless the “I” and the “We” are in good standing. And this can’t happen if we have unresolved issues that are affecting how we deal with others. This week, take time for self-evaluation. Identify which of the areas we highlighted you need to grow in and get to work.
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