The four words leaders must remember – ‘self care, self aware’
Head of policy, ACEVO
Earlier this year ACEVO (Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations) launched a leadership framework which was co-produced with a group of our members and comprises six core competencies that every active leader needs. One of these competencies is ‘self care, self aware’. Leaders should take into account individuals’ self-care and well-being (including their own), and how this impacts the culture Promoting a positive culture Promoting a culture where people think positively about mental health is a really important ingredient in keeping your workplace healthy. View toolkit of the organisation they work for. Passion is one of the defining features of people working in civil society organisations but good leaders should be able to ignite passion in themselves and others without burning out. As Jenny, our head of leadership and governance, often reminds us, ‘you can’t pour from an empty cup’.
ACEVO’s vision is for civil society leaders to make the biggest possible difference. I know that some leaders can feel, or be made to feel, that working for as hard and as long as they can is the way to best serve their beneficiaries. But neglecting our own or our team’s well-being will always end up costing more in the long run. Healthy, well workplaces result in less frequent staff turnover, less stress or sickness related absence Dealing with staff absences Sometimes, an employee might need time off to manage their mental health. These resources can help your organisation to cope. View toolkit and higher productivity.
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