CEO and Founder of Grokker, the on-demand well-being engagement solution, personalized to match employees' needs and abilities.
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By now, you've probably gotten the message that your employees need support to help them cope with challenging times. You're likely examining whether you are providing the right resources and permission to take care of themselves. But are you taking care of yourself, too?
Q1 is prime time for employee stress and burnout, yet leaders are not invulnerable. In fact, Grokker Innovation Labs's 2021 State of Stress research found that while stress levels are generally lower among senior executives than among middle managers and entry-level workers, executives are over three times more likely to feel "overwhelmed" by stress. This is alarming and suggests you may be at risk of letting stress overtake your best efforts to keep it all together.
Taking Care of Yourself — Yes, You
I get it. You might thrive under pressure but please, don't fall into the trap of thinking that you'll rest sometime in the nebulous future. I've been there and done that and I've learned that my quality of life is substantially better — as is my effectiveness as a business and people leader — when I'm taking care of myself first.
I detail my road-tested advice for getting into an optimal mindset and state of physical readiness for effective leadership in It's Personal: The Business Case for Caring, but here are three of the most important steps you can take now as you head into the new year:
1. Ensure Balance
I stay centered with what I call the 8-3-3-1 Stability Framework™ in which I look at my life as a tent with four interdependent flaps: sleep, exercise, nutrition and fun. When securely staked to the ground, the tent is able to withstand the windiest of storms; but should one or more flaps come loose, balance is lost and the tent collapses. Where does the 8-3-3-1 come in? For me to feel emotionally balanced and connected, I need eight hours of sleep; three nutritious meals a day; three challenging workouts and/or meditation sessions per week; and one fun thing to look forward to each week with friends or family.
Adhering to this framework is nonnegotiable. If I miss more than one of these key elements at a time, my life — just like the tent — will fall over. I check in with myself weekly and adjust my priorities accordingly, and that's why during weeks when I feel slammed, I might be found squeezing in a 20-minute yoga workout at the office in plain sight.
I suggest that everyone create their own 8-3-3-1 equivalent. Your numbers might be different, but look at it this way: If you have more than one flap that isn't properly staked to the ground, you'll have an early-warning system and know what to pay attention to in order to course-correct and feel your best.
2. Manage Stress Proactively
We can't be expected to engage, perform or even function at "normal" levels without employer support. The world has changed too much, too quickly to just soldier on pretending we aren't impacted by all that occurred in 2020. Stress management must be an ongoing daily endeavor lest the side effects of stress on our health and ability to make sound decisions render it impossible for us to show up ready for work and inspire others to do the same.
I've found one of the easiest ways to help myself and my workforce manage stress is to normalize it. Don't let stress be the elephant in the room. Acknowledge stressful events, whether they're related to your business or taken from the headlines, and do what it takes to diffuse the stressful feelings and fears: Take a walk, meditate, get more sleep, talk it out.
This is where leading by example is critical and why taking daily actions to reduce and even prevent stress, out in the open, is so powerful. Incorporate new practices in the workday — set up a team mindfulness session or start a meeting with a group stretch — and encourage employees to decompress and find focus, on their terms, with resources they can access around-the-clock.
3. Take Fun Seriously
"Company leaders are probably not having fun right now." That's how Dr. Pedro Sellos of the American University of Dubai leads his recent article in Entrepreneur. As he goes on to explain, effective leaders' natural charisma — and I'll add, a keen sense of humor — play a vital role in keeping employees motivated and inspired.
"Fun" is one of Grokker's core values because, as Northwestern University's Dr. Rima Touré-Tillery says, "People work hard at what they enjoy." Enjoyment is a motivator, and while it's essential for sparking action and forming habits, it's a component of building a successful team that drives desirable business outcomes. Prioritizing fun inserts powerful and positive emotion into work and a sense of togetherness among co-workers.
Ultimately, you want your employees to say, "I'm reaching my goals, and I'm having fun doing it." How? Set the tone by sharing a funny meme or personal story. Laugh at yourself — it's OK! My team is well aware of my humbling Fantasy Football season against my 9-, 12- and 13-year-old nephews (I still maintain that convincing grandad to trade them his best players is cheating.) Schedule a team competition or virtual game party and participate. Do you love sports? Are you crafty? Does your team display an interest in pop culture? Think of ways to connect people around their hobbies and outside interests.
Moving ahead, consider yourself a role model for workforce well-being and take a page from airplane safety 101: Put your oxygen mask on first before helping others. If you don't make time for self-care, you can't expect your employees to do what they need to bring their best to work. If you prioritize your health and well-being, your employees will likely follow, and you can keep it all together, together.
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