07/01/2020

Daily Buzz: Leaders Should Maintain Work-Life Balance, Too

Your always-on approach may be doing more harm than good

During tumultuous times, leaders might feel tempted or even obligated to work around the clock. But your always-on approach may be doing more harm than good to your team.

“How can they feel comfortable taking time off, even when you say it’s OK, if you’re always texting, emailing and available? Your direct reports will inevitably follow your lead, even if it heads into risky, stressed-out territory,” said Tiffany Delmore on Entrepreneur.

Delmore said to practice what you preach when it comes to maintaining a work-life balance. That means including yourself in company wellness mandates, such as taking an extra day off to focus on mental health and wellness. If you’re struggling to follow along, be honest with your coworkers.

“Your openness could help take the stigma away from other personnel struggling with the same frustrations,” she said. “Nothing brings people together like common problems.”

It can also help to engage in stress-relieving activities with your team, such as fun get-togethers or workshops in person or via video call. You can even bring in an expert who can teach the group an interesting activity, like cooking a certain dish or learning an at-home exercise routine.

“Be present, and participate in every event. Your visibility will indicate that the activity is relevant and supported by upper management, which will take away worries that it’s just a frivolous attempt at reducing everyone’s anxiety,” Delmore said.

Please select this link to read the original article from Associations Now.