Managing unhealthy working practices
* Cough, cough…* Sorry, just clearing my throat before I start this post. Literally. Because it’s been a pretty unhealthy week for me, in more ways than one.
Whilst I’ve been struggling to soldier on whilst suffering severe bronchitis, it’s got me thinking about how we - as business owners and team leaders - approach illness in the workplace.
You know what I tell my team when they’re sick? “Take all the time you need. Get better. Look after yourself. Your health must come first!!”
You know what I tell myself? “You’re fine, stop being so dramatic. You’re falling behind on work. You’re letting people down.” And that means there’s a different kind of “unhealthy” I’ve been trying, and failing, to achieve.
But as you know, I believe failure is essential to success - that by failing forward, we can learn from what hasn’t worked, and implement better, healthier practices. So, this week, I’ve decided to apply this core principal to my own attitudes towards illness.
It’s an issue many professionals face, particular those in senior leadership positions or self-employment: how do we step away from professional obligations, and make time for self-care and recuperation?
Surely we need to set a good example to our team?
What if we miss a deadline, or fail to engage in a conversation that will become vital later down the line?
Does the pressure of knowing how much there will be to catch up on when we’re well enough to return to work leave us feeling so stressed, it seems easier to simply not take the time off at all?
But this week I’ve been encouraging myself to come full circle…what was it that I’d say to my team if they were in the same position I’ve been?
Take all the time you need.
Get better.
Look after yourself.
Your health must come first!!
So why is it so hard for me to turn that compassion back on myself?
I know I’m not the only one who struggles to take their own advice. Too often we feel pressured to show up, be visible, minimise our illnesses, smile through the pain. But effective working cultures need to instil genuine compassion and understanding into their ways of working - it takes more than lip service to make people feel professionally cared for.
So this week I’ve been trying to take a taste of my own medicine and look after myself. After, it’s unhealthy in more ways than one to refuse to recognise illness as valid: an attitude that’s a sickness in itself.
Is your attitude towards keeping your business afloat affecting your ability to make time for self-care? Are you struggling to manage a healthy work-life balance? Are you eager to instil a more compassionate approach towards sick leave in your business? I’m here to help!
I offer business coaching that’s tailored to meet your specific needs and circumstances. If you’d like to learn more about how I can support you in creating a better working culture, you can book a free thirty minute kick off conversation to talk some more about how I can help.
Until then…stay healthy!