by Libby Calderone, President and CEO of Envisant
As leaders within the credit union movement, we are conscientious and diligent about supporting the members and communities we serve. How we handle stress as leaders not only affects our well-being, but also that of our teams and members. Happily, there are actions we can take to manage the unique pressures of our roles to avoid burnout and serve our members more effectively.
Set boundaries
Fellow leaders, I’m sure you won’t be surprised by a recent Harvard study that shows CEOs spend 9.7 hours working on weekdays, and then they tack on several more hours on weekends and vacation days. All those hours add up and stress our physical and mental health, whether we acknowledge it or not. So it’s time for us to establish and communicate clear boundaries and protect and enhance our downtime. You can start by taking consistent breaks throughout the day, perhaps set a timer for 5 minutes every hour to take a mental break.
Set boundaries regarding after-hours business communications for you and your team too. With a hybrid work environment, everyone enjoys the flexibility it gives; but it can also create an environment where everyone feels like they need to always be connected via phone or laptop. It’s okay to put those devices down and not be constantly connected to the office. You and your team need to have time to connect with other rewarding aspects of life—family, friends, hobbies, or just a quiet time to recharge—so you can bring your best, fully energized self to work.
Practice resilience
Sometimes we just can’t avoid stress, so build up your resilience with these exercises and best practices.
- Regularly engage in a relaxing activity that gives you the chance to reflect on the sources of your stress and replace negative thoughts with encouraging ones.
- Take control of projects and situations that feel overwhelming by breaking them down into manageable steps and solutions.
- Stay positive. Focus on what you appreciate about your job and the people around you. Take stock of your own abilities and past successes, then use them as tools to solve your current challenges. For me, humor is one way I stay positive and encourage a more relaxed environment.
- Don’t neglect your basic needs. Healthy eating, a full night’s sleep, and physical exercise go a long way to helping you cope with stress.
- Maintain your long-term relationships. This can be hard when you’re busy, but engaging with friends and family can promote resilience. I have a group of gym buddies that I exercise with regularly, meeting two needs at once.
Share responsibility with your team
A great way to lighten your load is by giving upcoming leaders an energizing chance to develop. I personally love to give people opportunities to grow and own something. When I tell someone, “I want you to own it,” I mean I want the person to take a concept or project, develop strategies and solutions, and marshal necessary resources to bring it to fruition. Promoting this “ownership” is a great way to improve an organization’s performance while alleviating your own stress.
Reach out for support
As leaders, we’re independent and strong, but we all need support—someone who can help us see challenges from a fresh perspective and inspire solutions. Even established leaders need mentors and a group of peers to exchange ideas and support, or even a professional counselor. Getting the support we need makes us better guides for our teams and helps foster a work environment that encourages staff to seek help when needed.
For busy leaders, finding time for self-care is a challenging but essential priority—not only for our own mental well-being but also to create a more productive and positive work environment for our teams. When executives lead staff in taking active steps to support personal mental wellness, the entire team is better equipped to effectively serve members. And what a powerful example you will set as a leader!
At Envisant, we prioritize all employees’ mental wellness so we can energetically help our credit union partners serve their members with clear, focused strategies for success.
