Leaders Need to Prioritize Their Mental Health
By: Ree Jackson
Tags: Self Improvement, Work, Mental Health, Business, Leadership

It’s so easy to complain about our bosses.

They’re the targets of our frustration, the obstacles that keep us from getting to the life and paycheck we really want. Their demands, their rules, their very existence often makes us want to rebel. Complaining has become a nearly automatic response to any form of authority.

Why don’t they try to understand us? Maybe the better question is: Why don’t we try to understand them?

Being a leader is hard. If you’re a good one, you spend much of your time listening and looking out for your employees. You have your own boss or board of directors to report to on a regular basis. You see the big picture and sometimes it’s an ugly reality you don’t want to share with your team until you absolutely have to do so. You play multiple roles of protector, counselor, cheerleader, and coach.

That is why mental health must come first. It will help the leader, the employees, and set a tone in the workplace that values all aspects of human health an wellness.

The Pressure at the Top

Have you ever stopped to wonder where your boss turns when they need help?

Some bosses vent to the team, even trashing their employees. That is the first sign of a toxic workplace. The good ones are usually focused on the team, and less on their own needs. That can lead to burnout and other issues that impact everyone.

Before you hire into a place, it’s important to know your organization’s philosophy: is it employee-centric or profit and success at all costs? That will tell you quite a bit about the potential pressures your future boss is facing.

Bosses are human. All of us — workers, colleagues, leaders are deeply flawed. If we’re lucky, we all possess just enough self-awareness to keep us from becoming monsters.

On the days when your boss is extra cranky, demanding, unreasonable, it’s important to reach out and ask if they need help. Our leaders are not infallible. Giving them a moment to reset can help them to avoid making poor decisions or aggravating a tense situation.

Empathy for the Boss

Empathy is a critical workplace attribute for people at all levels in an organization.

A useful exercise for any employee is to try to look at things from their boss’ perspective. Even when we disagree, understanding the rationale and motivation behind our boss’ behavior and decisions will help to eliminate our own stress and disappointment.

Mental illness does damage to both the person who is suffering and those around them. Being collateral damage to your boss’ meltdown is not fair to you. In fact, if they are beginning to create an unreasonable amount of stress for you, you should document and seek your own mental health support

Sometimes, you end up with a boss who is not well. There are times when there is nothing you can do is leave. You need to take action to protect your own mental health.

Sadly for the boss who does not prioritize their mental health, they can risk losing valuable team members, their organization’s purpose, and even their job.

Every bad boss experience is a learning experience.

Having a bad boss can be helpful to honing our own leadership skills. It is a reminder of how to help employees, and how to channel your own emotions into positive territory for the sake of both your professional and personal life.

We should all hope that leaders, both good and bad, always seek proper mental health care. Everyone needs that release so they can grow, learn, heal, and lead.