Burnout is rampant in our society. At all levels, from upper management to individual contributors, people are feeling the burden of being overworked. In fact, a recent study from Asana found that approximately 70% of people experienced burnout within the last year.
One of the key things to consider when navigating burnout is whether or not you’re leading at a sustainable pace.
So what is leading at a sustainable pace, and why should you consider moving at a pace that is actually sustainable for your team?
We’ll cover those topics and also share 3 practical ways you can start incorporating more ease into your daily life as a leader and human being.
What is leading at a sustainable pace?
Leading at a sustainable pace involves making leadership moves from your wellbeing reserves. In this way, you can continue to support yourself without being burnt out, stretched thin, and overwhelmed.
Your leadership on the job is not separate from the processes, policies, and practices to support yourself. It’s rooted in your values and self-care practices outside of your job. While cognizant of your wellbeing, you make leadership decisions with the sustainability of your team’s production, morale, and capacity at the center.
Why should you move at a sustainable pace?
Living and leading at a sustainable pace is essential if you want to avoid burnout.
The cost of burnout is high. Taking care of your mental and physical health is not a “nice to have.” It’s an absolute must.
If we collectively don’t start living and leading at a more sustainable pace, we will pay the consequences in the form of higher healthcare costs, less authentic human connections with our loved ones, and increased rates of burnout.
There are a variety of practices you can add to your daily routine that will make a difference in you overall. Three of my favorite practices include the following:
Deep abdominal inhalations: Breathwork is a practice of breathing exercises that can influence your emotional, mental, and physical state in a positive way. It can be a form of meditation that allows you to disconnect from the mental chatter in your brain and connect directly to your body.
Compassionate boundaries: When it’s time for you to slow down, slow down. With compassion, communicate what you need to replenish your energy, so you can live and lead at a sustainable pace. Consider this framing the next time an attempt is made to add more to your plate:
I am not sure I/our team have/has the capacity for [Insert Request]. We are balancing [Insert Priority] with [Insert Priority]. Let us confer as a team about it and get back to you. [Really think about it, discuss with the team, and get back to the request with a response within 48 hours to a week.]
Time to savor your healthy, nourishing lunch: Back away from the screen. Slowing down the act of eating and really taking in the smell, sight, and texture of the foods you eat can be life changing. When we slow down and truly savor delicious food, our bodies (and brains) thank us for it.
It’s not too late to examine how you lead, remove what’s not necessary, and slow down to a more sustainable pace. It does require your initiative, and you’ll almost immediately reap the benefits.
Dr. Yasmene Mumby is a sustainable leadership advisor and the Founder & Principal of The Ringgold.
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