May is Mental Health Awareness Month.  As a leader, make sure that you are looking not only to the needs of your team, but caring for your own mental health as well.   Doing so is not selfish, but allows you to lead by example and model healthy work habits.

As the quote below from trail-blazing journalist Connie Chung states, you do not have to do everything yourself. Effective leaders know how to delegate tasks, set priorities, and seek support when needed. By focusing on the most important tasks and delegating or postponing responsibilities, you can free up time and energy to focus on critical tasks and have a greater impact in your role.

Delegate. Identify team members who are capable of handling certain tasks and delegate responsibilities to them. Trusting others to handle tasks can free up time for you to focus on more critical tasks.

Set realistic expectations.  Avoid over-committing yourself and set realistic expectations for what you can accomplish in a given timeframe. Communicate these expectations with your team and stakeholders to manage their expectations.

Seek support. Recognize that you can’t do it all alone and seek support from your team or colleagues. Consider hiring additional staff or seeking outside assistance if necessary.  Partners in Action not only provides human resource and leadership services but also offers ongoing support to leaders and their teams.

Finally, make time for self-care.  Take care of yourself both physically and mentally to avoid burnout. Engage in activities that help you relax and recharge.