We’ve all heard the pre-flight safety briefing: “Take the oxygen mask and place it over your nose.”

You can’t help anyone unless you first look after yourself.

Then you can share your oxygen mask when you first take care of the most important person.

The same applies to leaders.

Even as a leader, you may take on stress during the day …

Even though the team are all working extremely well to achieve the end result…

Stress can still manifest and this is where emotional intelligence plays a vital role: the leader … or whoever is feeling this … should recognize the emotion or emotions in the moment and manage those emotions, that stress, effectively. The first part of managing emotions… and stress … is awareness. Then deciding to not allow that negative energy to be carried, certainly not home at the end of the day.

Stress is often manifested when we recognize that the values we have identified are not being lived.

And that should be addressed as we become stressed when our values are compromised.

We also become stressed when there is uncertainty and unclear or an absence of communication.

Develop an awareness of the cause of stress in your life and work on…develop… strategies so this doesn’t occur.

Self-care begins - with us - all recognizing the importance of ‘me time’. Of course, time spent with the team, with loved ones, with our partner and children is imporant. But ME time is paramount. Time to wind-down, disconnect, reflect for ourselves, is essential.

Leaders should identify what it is for them which creates genuine ‘me time’ - and connect with that time as frequently as they need to.Self-care is not selfish.

Quite the opposite.

Caring for yourself allows you then to care for the other important people in your life in the best way possible.

As a leader, remember you are the most important person in your life and self-care must be a priority.

Only then can you share the oxygen mask.