CYP Now - Put your own oxygen mask on first...

For many of us it will have been some time since we heard those words in an airline safety demonstration, but, as we continue to grapple with the pandemic and all it brings, I think it’s a useful phrase to reflect upon.

As leaders, in times of crisis we strive to remain calm, collected and in control so we can “hold” our staff and create the conditions for them to safely practice.

I think it was a chair of the CBI that talked about having a mask of command on the back of his office door that he put on as his public face. But are there unintended consequences of this approach?

Could this be seen as us occupying the space of hero leader and placing more pressure on our staff to also “cope”, especially in a world in which much of our interaction is still virtual? Are we putting undue pressure on ourselves? Do we need to find a balance between making it safe and also showing our own vulnerability and humanity? Maybe the greatest strength of leadership at this time is to be able to say it's ok to not be ok and to support others to do the same.

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