Let's Talk About Emotional Well-Being for Leaders

Are we talking about this enough yet?
 
Emotional well-being – for men AND women alike.
 
In recent years organizations have made great strides to prioritize these conversations.
 
Putting in various programs from Employee Assistance to Mental Health Awareness campaigns.
 
Yet. Working with Executives, we’re still missing the mark.
 
I’ve been on the phone with male and female executives who have broken down when it's reflected (by myself or through their 360 survey) that they are not:
 
- Sleeping
- Eating well
- Taking time for themselves or even their loved ones
- Stressed
- Filled with anxiety
- Going to the doctor or dentist or any type of routine appointment
 
Everything personally is pushed to the side.
 
And more often than not, my male executives are the ones breaking down crying.
 
I'm the one safe place they can be vulnerable. That they can let their guard down.
 
That’s a red flag.
 
We need to do better.
 
64% of senior business leaders have suffered from mental health conditions, including anxiety, stress, and depression.

49% of CEOs have suffered from depression.

This means we NEED to talk about mental health at work.

At every level in the organization.

It’s costing executives much more than their livelihoods.

When you pour all your energy into:

- Putting out fires
- Responding to those requests
- Fixing mode
- Taking care of your employees
- Getting work done

You stop putting energy into taking care of yourself.

Most leaders don’t realize that if you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of anyone else.

Not talking about a problem doesn’t make it not exist.