Look to yourself first to lead well
The psychologist, Carol Ryff, developed a model for wellbeing, which draws on thinkers such as Aristotle, to identify six dimensions of well-being.
These pillars underpin much of the work we do within Parity to support our clients - as individuals, leaders and as organisations - to develop self-awareness and build behaviours and beliefs that truly serve long-term good health.
Wellbeing is a state. Self care is what we do to achieve it.
As we move through our careers, there are clear phases of change - as life and work priorities shift. Being conscious of your own needs throughout each of these phases directly leads to improved wellbeing. Crucially, we all have the ability to meet our own needs in a supportive and constructive way, without leaning into behaviours that may ultimately not serve us.
Over-work, alcohol, shopping are just a few of the distractions we can use to avoid focussing on what really needs our attention. Self-care is about creating a toolkit that balances us and that we can lean on when times are more challenging. And it’s what ultimately brings us into the state of wellbeing.
Henny Flynn specialises in creating coaching packages and coaching retreats focussing on how self-care is a fundamental component of all successful change. There are workshops, mini-courses and podcasts to explore. We weave this knowledge through Parity, as we see it as the crucial foundation of a healthy and effective employees.
Self-care is not a nice-to-have.
It reduces stress and anxiety, builds resilience and is the bedrock of well-working; a priority, wherever you are in your career.
Early stage career
Starting out on our career path, we often prioritise work and the community and relationships we discover within it. We build our identity around our experiences and begin to lay down patterns that continue to show up throughout our life. Self-awareness is key at this stage as some of those patterns and behaviours may feel as though they serve us now, but may need adjusting, to sustain good mental and physical health.
Mid-stage career
Life choices bring their own challenges and opportunities; our work / life balance may shift. Accountability and responsibility - at work and home - may change. And our personal needs can feel as though they’re taking a backseat. We may have a sense of losing ourselves within the busyness of our lives. Once more, self-care plays a key role. By recognising unhealthy patterns, and taking action, we become more emotionally resilient, feel better in ourselves and perform better as leaders.
Later-stage career
Another shift in priorities and pressures. Greater responsibility and authority, combined with changes outside of work - empty nest, menopause, family cares - can raise questions of identity, purpose, and whether we’ve achieved ‘enough’. Self-care here can be about reevaluating how we invest in ourselves and our changing needs… to continue to enjoy the work we do, enable others, and create legacy.