Serving others well starts with you

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In my decade+ of serving leaders, one thing I have unfortunately encountered time and again is burnout. Leaders who are tired, cynical, and increasingly detached from their work and their people. Leaders who are stuck personally and professionally and lack a sense of accomplishment and purpose.

The phenomenon of burnout was originally observed in and linked to people-oriented professions such as human services, education, and healthcare. But the truth is, if you are a leader in any industry, you are in the people business. No one is immune, and a lack of intentionality can result in a gradual drift toward burnout.

You may remember from a few weeks ago we talked about the components of meaningful leadership, one of which is “Outward Focus, Inward Commitment.” I absolutely love the tension that is created in this. As leaders, we are to give our attention to those we serve, all while staying connected to what’s happening on the inside of us. If we can successfully hold these two things in balance, we may have a way to avoid the burnout trap.

Inward Commitment is about paying attention to what’s happening inside of you, taking ownership of your emotions, honoring your word to yourself and others, and operating with noble intention. Avoiding burnout requires more than simply “self-care.” You have to go deeper than that.

And it’s this deep work you have to be committed to if you want to lead others. It’s not optional. It’s your duty, your oath. Why? Because you can’t genuinely serve others well if you aren’t healthy. You can still “lead” them from a technical point of view, but you will fall short of true service to them.

How to show up as your best for those you serve

Next week, we’ll explore the practical steps you can take to ensure you are healthy, establish critical rhythms in your life, and show up powerfully for others in service.

A Question to Leave You With…

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your current level of health physically, emotionally, and spiritually?

Go out and lead meaningfully friends.

Trevor

PS - If you found this valuable in any way, I have two requests. One, would you reply and let me know? I’d love to hear from you. Second, would you consider forwarding this to a friend or colleague who might also be eager to grow as a leader? I would be honored to be trusted with your people and promise to serve them as powerfully as I intend on serving you.

If you’re ready to dig in some more, here are a few ways you can grow meaningfully as a leader:

1. Have you ever considered hiring a coach? Click here to schedule a no-cost, 15-minute discovery call with me where we’ll explore how coaching might just be the greatest next step for your growth.

2. Check out the latest episode of the Beyond High Performance podcast from my fellow coaches at Novus Global.

3. Want to learn what motivates you? Check out our free 5i Assessment to find out!