We see it time and time again. I did it myself – and it almost brought me down.
They put themselves last. Good managers who are so dedicated they fall out of balance—working too many hours vs. focusing on value. Losing sight of the prize. Forsaking themselves for their company and their people.
How can this be sustainable? It is probably damaging to their health, and even worse — sets a poor example to their teams that you have to sacrifice yourself to be successful.
Can this be sustainable?
And while managers who care about their people often put themselves last, working like crazy, taking care of everyone but themselves, they can suffer imbalance, unfulfilled home lives, or even disappointing results at work.
I believe is a false sense of priority. Confusing activity with results.
I’m reminded of the flight attendant’s instructions to put your oxygen mask on first so that you can help others. Managers need to do the same.
By caring for themselves, managers can improve their ability to care for others. And that includes not only themselves and their families, but also their work and the people they work with.
The push back might be – “but that is so selfish of me!”
It is not selfISH. It is self care.
By practicing self care, you put yourself first so that you can enable others’ success.
What self caring actions can you take?
