{"id":13114,"date":"2020-04-20T03:14:44","date_gmt":"2020-04-20T03:14:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/948294437a.nxcli.io\/?p=13114"},"modified":"2020-04-20T03:14:44","modified_gmt":"2020-04-20T03:14:44","slug":"self-care-for-selfless-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpsleadership.com\/index.php\/2020\/04\/20\/self-care-for-selfless-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"Self-Care for Selfless Leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"

All serious-minded leaders take their work to heart. When you understand the gravity of your responsibilities \u2013 there is no amount of privilege, compensation or recognition that lifts the weight of your decisions off of your shoulders. Perhaps during good times others might think you make it look easy, but even then you are acutely aware that all the privileges of leadership are fully counterbalanced by the responsibilities to what and whom you serve.<\/p>\n

This is true of leading through relatively good times \u2013 and is especially the case now. Self-reflection and practicing mindfulness are core to the mental habits required of self-maintenance you must perform in order to offset the normal ware-and-tear of owning the problems you must. During highly stressful times the toll it takes on your body can be extreme, even deadly.<\/p>\n

Exercising self-compassion suggests that you must lighten-up on yourself. It amounts to understanding that you are no good to anyone else unless you take care of yourself. It\u2019s the metaphor of the oxygen masks descending towards your seat on an airplane \u2013 with the instruction to place the mask first on yourself \u2013 and then aid small children and others around out.<\/p>\n

It feels counterintuitive when your DNA suggests that your purpose is to serve others, and your conscientiousness dictates that you place the needs and interest of others above those of your own. But to be an exceptional leader you need to meet your own basic needs in order to serve the needs of others. This means staying healthy an fit \u2013 both physically and mentally. It\u2019s having the proper habits.<\/p>\n

You know the drill: Get proper rest, nutrition, hydration and exercise and manage your stress. You also need to manage your emotions and keep you mind sharp. This is best accomplished by being insatiably curious, humble so that you can allow yourself to learn and make mistakes \u2013 and a sense of purpose that guides you to accomplish things that matter. It is in those accomplishments that you experience the MoJo \u2013 or moments of overwhelming joy that keeps you in the game.<\/p>\n

There is no question that the most critical thing of all are your habits of thinking.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

They are rooted in your values and belief and inform every decision you make and action you take. Your habits of thinking define who you are.<\/p>\n

Over the past fifteen years I have had the privilege to have received the shared wisdom and experience of dozens of leaders who have been my mentors. They have been the source of my inspiration \u2013 and have challenged my thinking and helped me develop better habits of thinking that have helped me navigate the challenges I have faced \u2013 and helped me help others navigate their challenges.<\/p>\n

The following is a list of timely and timeless pearls of leadership wisdom. These leadership affirmations seem especially useful in light of the world we are living in right now.<\/p>\n

I must apologize, since \u00a0I have no idea who to properly attribute them to. If you do, I would greatly appreciated hearing from you.<\/p>\n