Why Maintaining Balance and Prioritizing Wellness is Part of the Lucha in Leadership

My 87-year-old mother always says, ‘Si no tienes la salud, tú no tienes nada.’ If you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything.???

A few years ago, under the weight of stress and what felt like crisis after crisis, I understood what she meant like never before. In the aftermath of the pandemic, I was faced with key defining moments as CEO at Latinos for Education. This time period was the wakeup call that showed me just how out of balance I was and, truthfully, I wasn’t feeling my best to deal with it all.??

So, I hit the streets in my neighborhood, my feet pounding the pavement as I sought peace in turbulence through running. What was I going to share with my team? How was I going to reassure them through this crisis? What were the implications for our larger network going to be? And, perhaps most importantly, how was I going to fix it all so we could move on and continue in our work? ?

It is because of questions like these that we as leaders stay up late, get up early, and fight with ganas for our causes. Research shows that burnout among non-profit leaders is at an all-time high. For social entrepreneurs, the burnout is often compounded because it is, in part, a result of working within the systems we are trying to fix. Taking the time to find balance and maintain your wellness may seem insignificant compared to a broken and oppressive system, but it matters.?

As a leader, if you’re not at your best, how do you expect to show up for others??

As a Latina, breaking this cycle can be even more difficult. Growing up, the messages we heard were almost always about luchando and putting others first – fighting, working hard, showing up, and giving that extra 10% all the time. We’re taught self-criticism, not self-love. In fact, self-love is often seen as selfishness. I have certainly gone through that self-defeating thought process.??

But confronting crisis as a leader is inevitable and you have to be at your best. So, what were my takeaways during that crisis in maintaining my wellness???

1. Find the balance between being vulnerable and being steadfast: I’ve learned that as a leader, the best thing you can do when confronting crisis is to be as forthright as possible. Even if you’re having closed door conversations, your team will sense when trouble is on the horizon. Don’t hide it. Confront it. At the same time, it is your responsibility as a leader to be steadfast in finding solutions and maintaining optimism. Be vulnerable when the situation calls for it -- crisis will test your resolve -- but the best thing you can do is to remain determined to solve problems to achieve your mission. Being in leadership can be lonely, especially if you’re a person of color in leadership. Nobody quite understands what you’re going through, but being vulnerable and transparent with the challenges you are facing as a leader is crucial for your mental well-being as is remaining committed to your mission.?
2. Activate your network to find solutions: As a leader, you must make dozens of decisions a day. But it’s important to acknowledge that no one person has all the expertise and skills needed to tackle every challenge. Often, crises are problems that are outside of your day-to-day scope. When you are not in crisis mode, you should be building your ‘Kitchen Cabinet,’ or unofficial advisors that you can call upon for advice and feedback. That way, when you are in crisis mode, you have access to diverse perspectives to help you find the best solutions. By tapping into your network, you will gain access to insights, ideas, and resources you wouldn’t have otherwise.??
3. Prioritize your physical health: If you don’t have physical health, your mental health will also suffer. Many of us came from generations of people who were simply luchando para sobrevivir - fighting to survive. But it’s important to know it’s not selfish to prioritize your health. In fact, there’s no better way to be in la lucha than to be the best version of yourself because by prioritizing your health, you’re prioritizing your ability to lead. To lead well, you must take the time. Whether it’s an hour for yoga, running, or meditation, it's a known fact that the return is immeasurable. After 25 years of not running, I started again. Now, at 55, I run five miles daily and it’s become second nature. Even if you feel like you have to start from scratch, do it. Leading a team requires stamina and resilience much like running does. Running is where I figure things out, solutions come to mind and I generate ideas. Not to mention, those you are leading will also take note. By prioritizing your own health, you’ll set an example for others in your sphere of influence while creating a culture that values wellness above all. Our comunidad deserves that.

Often, it has been in moments of crisis when I have been forced to look inward to find the strength to get through it all and outward to my network to get support. I’ve learned that I am tough, but not completely made of steel. And these setbacks have been a learning opportunity for me: when I prioritize myself (put my oxygen mask on first, so to speak) and lean on my network, I can get through a lot.??

That moment changed me, but one thing continues to ring true: Si no tienes la salud, tú no tienes nada.???