Leadership is Healthy

Leadership is Healthy August 28, 2012

Leadership is healthy.

Your true leadership grows out of recognizing and appreciating your true self. Leadership is not about being someone else; leadership is about being who you are.

The health of your leadership reflects your own health.

There is nothing inherently stressful about leadership. There are very effective leaders who do not suffer from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other stress-related issues. There are very good leaders who regularly take time to reflect and to listen. There are leaders whose leadership benefits not only their organizations, but also themselves.

Leadership is more than just making good decisions about the bottom line, or setting the right course for the future.

Leadership is about using what you have to its best advantage in the long run.

Leaders bring out the best in the people around them. They are honest and authentic. They understand the value of recruiting people with the greatest potential, and developing that potential. They appreciate that performance is a combination of achievement and learning.

Leaders know that it does not pay to burn both ends of a candle all the time. The light may burn brighter for a while, but eventually you run out of candle and are in the dark.

Effective leaders value the resource of the people around them. They recognize the benefits of developing themselves and other people, avoiding burnout, “sharpening the saw.”

Healthy leaders encourage people to strengthen and maintain their own health.

We all know that some things are good for our health. Eating wisely and getting regular exercise. Getting enough rest. Having perspective. Finding balance. Laughing. Healthy leaders set standards and create culture that encourages people to become and stay healthy.

How healthy is your leadership?

Can you be a healthy leader?

[Image by cori kindred]


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