Mental Change. Who helps the leader?
The world is in utter chaos. Optimism will not solve the problem. Leaders will, but what is a leader in times of chaos? Leaders, whether they admit it or not, are anxious, concerned, depressed, frustrated, nervous, overwhelmed, and stressed. A quick Google search will say that leaders are confident, decisive, empowered, motivated, resilient, and visionaries. However, the two are not mutually exclusive. It’s naive to think that the weight of leadership in adverse situations doesn’t influence the innate mental struggles in all humans.
Leaders are aware of the downsides of neglecting their mental health. Many will advocate for mental health by speaking out and providing resources to their teams. Unfortunately knowledge doesn’t always translate into action. Business tends to carry on as usual. It’s never business as usual, especially when the world is currently stressed to capacity. In normal conditions, "a WHO-led study estimates that depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy US$ 1 trillion each year in lost productivity." It’s safe to assume that number grows during chaos. There’s too much at stake. The world is depending on leaders to solve its endless problems. Leaders can try to hide their personal struggles behind talent and performance. Ultimately it will wreck them internally and limit their potential for impact externally. Elon Musk tweeted, “The reality is great highs, terrible lows and unrelenting stress; Don’t think people want to hear about the last two.” It’s not a time to retreat. Things will only get more difficult if leaders continue down the avoidable path.
So where do leaders go for help, especially when they’re supposed to have all the answers?
Start with Self
It doesn’t matter if you’re an introvert, extrovert, private person or open book, its very difficult to broadcast your personal struggles. While we sit in the social media age, it’s not a requirement to announce personal challenges publicly. It is a requirement for leaders to take ownership of their mental status. The good news is that the world has embraced wellness as a whole with solutions like meditation and yoga. The bad news is that it's hard to know where to start. This is not new. Competent leaders have found ways to develop the needed capabilities to reach their other goals. Goals are often inspired by accomplishments of other leaders. Leaders choose schools to become like the distinguished alumni, set out on career tracks to replicate others professional success, study those they admire through books, videos, and talks to gain insights on what made them successful. The same can be done for mental health. Many respected leaders have publicly shared their struggles and coping mechanisms including Oprah, Michael Phelps, and countless executives. Those individuals show that mental health does not discriminate based on industry, accomplishments, race, or gender. They also show that there are several effective ways to heal ones mental health. Leaders have the ability to learn from other leaders who have overcome similar struggles by applying those impactful solutions to their own life.
Professional Help
It’s to be noted that most people can’t fix all of their own problems, nor should they have too. Leaders contract people to assist in all aspects of life when they want the best results. Leaders assemble brilliant teams, partner with experts and trust outside consultants. These decisions aren’t a reflection of a flawed leader, rather one who understands a better way to achieve a desired outcome. To over simplify, most leaders forgo cutting their hair which will grow back because they know more effective and efficient professionals. That same rationale is routinely rejected to solve a mental struggle. It’s not realistic for one to have every solution for the most complex organ in the human body consisting of 86 billion neurons (The Guardian). While those neurons have allow leaders to produce incredible results with clear thought, those same neurons hold onto past traumas, failures and disappointments; current and present struggles; and future worries that may or may not occur.
The stigma around professional help should be retired. The stigma undermines leaders who have the potential to improve. Progress is lost from inaction rather than inability. Trusted professionals (counselors, psychologist, therapist, etc) equip leaders with the necessary tools to address their mental struggles. These trusted professionals assist when deeper solutions are needed to address biological factors (chemical imbalances, genetics, injury, etc) that leaders may not be aware of. Professionals give leaders the ability to understand the start of a struggle, while also providing the framework to heal through and after a struggle . Unfortunately there is no way to eliminate all struggles.
Other Leaders
There’s no sense in having a network if you don’t use it. Leaders have trusted relationships with other leaders through shared experiences and foundational principles. Ironically, these leaders have either gone through, are currently going through or will go through some of the mental challenges that haunt leaders. These bonds come with empathy and a mutual desire to see a peer at their best with no strings attached. There is an opportunity for leaders to work individually with other leaders to continuously improve their mental health. This isn’t a place to handhold or babysit, but an opportunity to create solutions. These leaders will understand the importance of a safe space to be vulnerable and to respect a demanding schedule. Reciprocation is mandatory.
Groups serve a functional purpose, but can pose several challenges including coordination across taxing schedules, responsibility to organize and lead. Clusters naturally form in groups as certain members gravitate more to each other which may limit the opportunity for full transparency.
It’s to be noted that many leaders have great support systems consisting of family, friends, colleagues and mentors. This support system is undeniably valuable. Leaders are free to use support systems as a place of normalcy or to explore mental health solutions.
We’ve seen phenomenal leaders go on the mental health journey alone and fall victim to substance abuse, deeper struggles and untimely deaths from suicide. Many leaders have suppressed their mental struggles so much that it has become their normal. The world’s chaos will eventually fade away. The weight of leadership and the challenges that come with life will remain forever. Leaders owe it to themselves to start addressing their mental health. There are numerous options for leaders to start the journey themselves, work with trusted professionals and partner with other great leaders to become their best mentally. As a leader, where will you start for help?
