Our aim is to support you to look after yourself so that you can deliver the best leadership you can in the moment.
The leadership we demonstrate now has never been more important. These continue to be enormously challenging times for us all at CUH. Findings from the CUH Reflects survey highlighted the vital role of those in leadership positions, whether we are managing whole services, teams or resources.
We see an overriding need for flexible, agile and compassionate leadership to support the organisation and maximise staff engagement.
Compassionate and inclusive leadership start with practicing self-compassion and self-care. You may have heard the expression that you can’t pour from an empty vessel. Another analogy that is often quoted is to put your own oxygen mask on first before trying to help someone else. Both these expressions emphasise the importance of looking after our own wellbeing so that we can be a positive role model for others and lead authentically and with integrity, maintaining engagement and motivation.
Three things you can do right now for yourself
Stop and take a couple of slow, deep breaths. Notice if you are carrying tension and where this is. When did you last have a drink of water, a snack, or give your eyes a screen break? If you like to follow mindfulness principles, take a tiny pause and notice something that has gone well today.
Remember something that has gone well, that you are proud of or that you were praised for. Acknowledge your competence and skill in that situation and remember how that felt.
Ask yourself if you are being as effective as you could be right now? Are you focussing your energies on what you can control and being proactive rather than being distracted by what you can’t control?
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