About an hour ago, I got an email from Maria, my immediate supervisor at work and my role model for leadership during difficult times. With her permission, I’m sharing what she wrote with all of you:
“Good morning, Amanda. I see from the emails you’ve sent that you worked most of the day yesterday and have already started working today. I know that we’re behind the eight ball on a lot of things, and I appreciate all that you’re doing, but I’m concerned that you’re pushing yourself too hard. I’d like you to take the rest of the morning (at least) to rest and recharge. Read a book, watch a movie, do some baking, call your sister, take a walk…do anything besides work. Then, later today, sit down and really think through what we need to accomplish in the next week, what can be delayed or approached in a lower gear, and how I can support you in finding the balance. Remember that if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be at your best as an employee, leader, family member or friend.”
As an empathetic, caring, and committed manager, Maria knows me well and knew exactly what I needed to hear today. I was especially struck by the last line, because right now so many people are consumed with the feeling that they need to devote all of their energy to being the very best parents, employees, friends, relatives, and so on. However, time spent paying attention to our physical and emotional health pays dividends in making the time spent on other things much more effective. I know that when I’m feeling burnt out, I might spend an hour on something that on another day might take twenty minutes, because I didn’t think I could afford to take a break, even though the break would undoubtedly have saved me time in the long run. (Here’s more about why taking time out benefits your work and productivity.)
I know that this is a particularly difficult time for parents, and it’s easy to think you need to devote every spare minute to your family. My sisters have recently expressed that while they’re very focused on parenting, they don’t feel like they’re always doing a great job. This makes sense, because effective parenting also requires taking care of yourself, so you have the energy needed to take care of others. (More on that here.)
I’m taking Maria’s advice today, and I hope you will, too. Enjoy your day.
Amanda Cade 
Enjoy your break 😉🤩
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I will. Have a great day!
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Such a kind gesture by Maria! 💖
Take a chill pill and enjoy 😊
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I will! I hope you also take some time for yourself today.
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Yes indeed 😊
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That is the kind of boss every employee needs. Too many bosses tell us we need balance and in the next sentence turn around and ask if we have finished the project yet. Good for you and take a much needed break Amanda. Allan
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I’m so blessed to have Maria. Many of my previous supervisors have been more like you described, with a “take care of yourself, but do it when all the work is done” attitude. I once had a manager tell me my biggest strength as an employee was that I worked weekends. It was a disquieting moment.
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How wonderful!
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I hope things are going well for you, Jennie. I know you’re in a tough spot, and my thoughts are with you and your colleagues.
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Thank you, Amanda. So far, so good.
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Maria is the type of leader so many will never know. I too have a leader like this for my part-time job. I am like this with my contractors. We all need to remember that this is but a moment and we need to take time to breathe!! Thank you for this reminder!
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The right kind of leadership resonates at all levels. I know I’m a better team leader because of Maria’s example.
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Maria shows great leadership, again! Thanks for sharing this important message I need to hear as well. Me time, coming up.
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Enjoy!
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What a great boss! Anyone who cares about your mental health is someone to be valued. I loved my career (thirty-one years as a school teacher), and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat with one amendment—to look after myself as much as I did the students in my class. It took retirement to admit that I had become a workaholic.
Interesting that you should be blogging about role models because I just wrote about two of mine: https://petespringerauthor.wordpress.com/2020/09/14/the-gift-that-keeps-giving/
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Role models and mentors are so important!
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Great advice and a great supervisor. I hope your time off is just what you need.☺️
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Stepping away from work for a while was definitely beneficial. I also took last week off from blogging, because while I love the blog, and the community, I was starting to feel stressed about it. Now I’m back to writing (and reading) posts, and feeling great!
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It’s good to have you back Amanda 😊
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Wow! Need more managers like her!
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She’s totally my role model.
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That’s a good manager, I know what it’s like though i both counts as trying to work and parent and feeling crap about it. It’s good that some care 🙂
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Parents have been facing incredible challenges this year, and I’m in awe of how they’ve risen to meet them.
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This is very true, authorities haven’t given them much of a break.
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