Knowing that wellbeing matters is one thing. Building a life that supports it is another. The first step is often surprisingly simple: face reality.
Leaders need to honestly look at the way they are living and ask:
If I continue like this, where is this going to take me?
This can be particularly difficult for driven, high-performing leaders who are used to believing that burnout happens to other people.
Self-awareness is essential, but leaders cannot always develop it on their own. We all have blind spots.
One of the most powerful practices discussed in the interview is simply asking the people around you:
“How am I affecting you?”
That question creates space for something leaders desperately need: feedback about their impact.
Our intentions and our impact aren't always the same. We may genuinely intend to serve, encourage or lead well, while the people around us are experiencing something very different.
The challenge is to listen without immediately defending ourselves.
There is also a need to create space away from the noise. Silence and solitude can give you the opportunity to stop performing, stop responding and simply listen. These moments don't have to be complicated. They might include starting the day with prayer and reflection, pausing during the day and looking back over the day before going to bed.
The important thing is creating space to notice.