Are you inspired by leaders who work 24/7, or ones who have attained a more sustainable, well-rounded level of success? If you gravitate toward individuals who prioritize their family, faith, and overall impact—you likely value holistic leadership. But what does this term mean and how can you start exercising it in your own life? Let’s dive in! 

While hard work will take you far, achieving a more balanced approach to your core values ensures greater long-term happiness. First, think through what’s important to you. Then, write these down! For instance, you might believe that making an impact on the world and guaranteeing your family’s security are two of the most important things to you. Think of ways to lead others toward these success indicators. Finally, strategically provide others with advice, guidance, and encouragement.  

Holistic leadership recognizes that people are complicated. We’re multifaceted and require many different approaches to get where we want to go. When thinking about leadership holistically, it’s important to consider these four aspects: self, family, career, and community. 

Prioritizing Self 

Leading others is a tremendous privilege and responsibility. It requires recognizing that nobody can perform at their peak all the time. We need breaks, rest, and opportunities to play! As a leader, it’s your job to model good habits for others. Remind them of the importance of eating nutritious food, getting plenty of sleep, and moving their body every day. Live out this example in your own life. If we neglect ourselves, we won’t have the energy to serve others.  

Making Time for Family 

Set a strong example of prioritizing family life. Do what you need to do to guarantee the safety and security of the ones you love. This might mean bringing your children to events so that they can see firsthand the impact you have on others. If you’re headed to a networking event, spend time explaining where you’re going and what this looks like to your children. Even if they’re young, they’ll start to understand that leaving them for a little while now will benefit everyone in the long run. Missing out on a bedtime story today might enable you to go on a family trip together in the future. Impactful leaders also edify their spouse or significant other as they work together toward mutual goals.  

Capitalizing on Your Career 

Think of “career” as the vehicle you’ll be using to achieve the impact you want to leave on the world. Your career might allow you to interact with others or provide an income that gives financial stability for your family. As a holistic leader, you’ll show others how to infuse purpose and passion into everything they do.  

Focusing on Community 

Your community is all around you—from the physical place where you live to the people you interact with every day. Holistic leaders think about how to leave the world better than they found it. This means changing lives for the better and collaborating with friends, neighbors, and local businesses. Working well with others only amplifies the positive difference you have on the world.  

Holistic leadership in a nutshell. 

In short, holistic leadership recognizes that there is no one-size-fits-all way to connect with and inspire everyone. This type of leader recognizes that people are complicated and tries to meet people where they are based on the stage of life they’re in. Leaders who look at others holistically also consider what mental state others are in. If someone is especially stressed, it’s going to be hard to motivate them to accomplish tasks productively. Instead, a holistic leader pauses to focus on helping the individual to relieve the stressors, first. Then, they dive into the work.  

Is a holistic leadership approach right for you? Take a moment to consider what type of leader you would like to be as you seek to light a flame in others.  

In addition to the leadership skills outlined above, strong leaders adapt to sudden setbacks. Check out our blog post on dealing with sudden changes and setbacks.