Leadership principle: Care for self to care for community

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Our last principle is ‘care for self to care for community.’

What first comes to mind when you think of this principle? Does it sound like an important one? 

While it can sometimes be treated with a tokenistic nod (or maybe an eyeroll), it’s widely known that self-care, or caring for yourself, is important. And just as in every other area of your life, caring for yourself is an important part of leadership. So, let’s break this principle down.

Care for yourself

What does it mean to ‘care for yourself’? When self-care comes up, it’s often followed with a list of ‘treat yourself’ activities like bubble baths and massages. And yes, taking time out to pamper yourself is one way of caring for yourself, but self-care goes beyond that. 

When was the last time you asked yourself, “What makes me laugh?”, “What brings me peace?” or “What makes me happy?”

To really be able to care for yourself, you need to get to know who you are as an individual, and what your needs are.

Self-care looks different from person to person. Maybe you’re a bit of an introvert and need time alone to reboot. You might like going on nature walks, going to the beach or reading a book. Of course, introverts need social connection too. Knowing how much social time you want and need is important for self-care. 

Or maybe you’re the opposite. Many extroverts get their energy from others. Time spent meeting new people, or with people they care about, might be what brings a smile to their face. 

Maybe you need something completely different! What are a few things you like to do? What is it about them that makes you feel good? How often do you take time to do them? What else could fill those needs?

Check in with yourself

It’s also important to remember that learning about ourselves and our needs, is a continuous process. As we grow and change, so do our needs. Understanding how to nurture your physical, emotional and mental wellbeing changes, as you do. What brings you peace and happiness now, might be a little (or a lot) different to what you needed ten years ago. That’s why it’s always good to keep checking in with yourself.

Caring for yourself is important for many reasons, but it’s not always easy to make the time. You might have many tasks that need doing, not enough time, or you might feel selfish for wanting to focus on you. 

That’s why it’s always good to have a list of reminders about why it is so important to look after yourself. Next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, come back to this list. 

• You deserve to look after you! Would you tell someone you cared about that they don’t deserve to be cared for? No! Don’t say it to yourself, either!
• It is okay to take time away from caring for others or from work to look after yourself.
• Taking care of yourself increases your capacity. With self-care you’ll have much more of yourself to give, if you choose to!
• Your mental health needs to be renewed just as much as your physical health. That means you need to care for yourself in both areas. 
• Understanding how to care for yourself helps you learn about who you are. The more you learn about yourself, the more you might like being in your own skin. It’ll make it that much easier to become your own best advocate!
• When you learn about your own needs, you will also learn how to see others’ needs (another skill added to your repertoire!). It’s important for a leader to know how to learn about the needs of the people they’re supporting, so why not start with yourself?
  

Caring for community

Okay, we’ve got a good handle on the benefits of caring for ourselves – but how does caring for ourselves help to care for our community?

When we learn how to care for ourselves, we’re also learning the skills needed to care for others. The great thing about this knowledge is that we can apply it to our family, friends and any groups we interact with – like our community! When you engage with that deeper understanding of each person’s needs you can be helpful in creating healthier and happier communities. Understanding what other people need is an important part of being a good leader.

It all starts with understanding each other!

There are the essential needs of course like food, water, and sleep. But also, human needs – connection, self-reflection, emotional wellbeing and safety. These are the things that help people and the community to thrive. By understanding and fulfilling your own needs, you learn how to assess and address the needs of those around you. When you apply your understanding, you showcase the amazing ripple effect of this principle.

So, caring for self is good for you, the people around you and the community that you are part of. But what about leadership? 

Leadership and caring for self

‘Care for self to care for community’ is a fundamental part of leadership. When you lead by example (one of the core parts of leading), and show that self-care is a priority, you encourage others to do the same. This means all the benefits you reap from self-care are shared by the people around you.

In the long-term, this can foster a culture of wellbeing, community and respect where everyone knows the importance of taking care of themselves – because it’s in everyone’s best interests!

In some cases, you might even be helping someone give themselves permission to prioritise self-care.

As a leader, you’re better equipped to support and guide others when your needs have been met. It’s easier to problem-solve, show patience, be creative and have understanding for others when you’re rested, energised and happy. Imagine what wonders would be created, if everyone was feeling like that! 

Contrary to our negative self-talk, self-care isn’t selfish, or even a check-box process – it’s essential. By prioritising your own wellbeing, you’re a more capable and compassionate leader, who helps others to grow into equally capable and compassionate leaders. And when we work together to incorporate all parts of this principle, we create amazing communities we can be proud of.