Dr. Tomi Mitchell On Recognizing Leadership Challenges: The Manifestations Of Critical Relationship Challenges

A leader's role goes beyond mere management. Leaders are the heartbeat of change, the compass others look to for direction, and the mirror reflecting the collective aspirations of the industry. This dual responsibility as a catalyst and regulator places them at the forefront of championing empathetic leadership that combats the issue of burnout that negatively affects both the leaders and those they lead.

Dr. Tomi Mitchell echoes these sentiments, recognizing leaders' role in setting the cadence of their organization to impact the well-being of those they serve. She notes, however, that leaders often burn out themselves because they fail to calculate the true cost of their roles. They often focus on measurable metrics like profits, revenue, and cash flow while neglecting the unspoken, hard-to-measure human costs. 

"I understand that the people I serve are more than just numbers. To truly capture my vision for them, I need to engage them on a much deeper level. Without viewing their roles through a human lens, leaders fall into this common pitfall of failing to recognize the importance of wellness, balance, and synergistic relationships within themselves and their organizations. Those who follow traditional rigid leadership styles might lack the genuine connection to adapt and navigate complex, real-world relationships effectively," Dr. Mitchell remarks. 

As a board-certified family physician and wellness and performance coach, she empowers fellow leaders, physicians, lawyers, executives, and other professionals to reduce burnout and overwhelm by improving their three critical relationships detailed in her Burnout Triad theory. Struggling with burnout herself motivated her to share her tools to help others achieve a happier, healthier, and more balanced life. 

Dr. Mitchell became a leader herself to transform the current leadership landscape. She realized that many leaders lacked compassion and the awareness of the voice, individual contributions, and circumstances of the people they lead. This motivated her to lead differently and positively impact those around her. 

The holistic wellness strategist's leadership philosophy is shaped by connecting the dots of her experiences in retrospect. Over a decade of experience in the field taught her that one can gain valuable insight from both exemplary leaders and those who fall short. Besides learning through the school of hard knocks, Dr. Mitchell pursued additional education, completing the course "Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles" offered by HarvardX, an online learning initiative of Harvard University. 

In this course, Dr. Mitchell learned the importance of trust and responsiveness in leadership. Effective leaders must balance firmness and boundaries with empathy and understanding, ensuring that their decisions are beneficial for the organization and considerate of the well-being of their team. Empathy in leadership enhances workplace culture and drives better business outcomes. Studies show that 84% of CEOs believe empathy improves business performance, and employees who perceive their leaders as empathetic are more motivated and productive​.

Going hand in hand with championing empathetic leadership is ensuring that leaders create environments where individuals can thrive personally and professionally. Leading by example, Dr. Mitchell emphasizes the importance of recognizing the early warning signs of burnout and addressing them proactively. This is linked to the eight dimensions of wellness: social, physical, emotional, intellectual, existential (spiritual), occupational, financial, and environmental. 

A leader attuned to these dimensions can foster an environment that promotes holistic well-being. They can mitigate and enhance overall productivity by integrating awareness and attention to these areas into daily practices and policies. Dr. Mitchell advocates for the incorporation of wellness discussions into routine activities, such as meetings. Instead of diving straight into business, she suggests setting aside a few minutes for icebreakers or open discussions on wellness topics. This practice helps to humanize the workplace, breaking down barriers and developing a sense of community and mutual support. 

Leaders also need to nurture themselves to grow effectively. The wellness coach introduces the concept of the "Burnout Triad," recognizing that burnout isn't a workplace phenomenon, but that at its core it is rooted in relationships. The Burnout Triad includes three critical relationships: the relationship with oneself, with significant others, and with work and society. Leaders, regardless of their titles, are responsible for their personal growth and well-being, as well as for nurturing these three critical relationships. 

Dr. Mitchell's burnout triad serves as a framework for understanding and addressing burnout. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of one aspect to another, showing that neglecting one area can negatively affect the others. Utilizing the Burnout Triad to raise their awareness, provides a framework for navigating these three critical relationships. She further expands "Conflicts in relationships are normal, as an effective leader you need to be able to navigate conflicts and grow" explains Dr. Mitchell. 

Alexander Pope's poem An Essay on Criticism writes "to air is human, to forgive divine." This highlights the imperfections in human relationships and the importance of being able to reflect and acknowledge when there has been a lack of foresight on the impact of decision-making on others. An effective leader takes this a step further by having the courage to change course and redirect based on relationship-centered reflection. "These relational skills are essential. Leaders need to apply this level of awareness to all aspects of their lives. For example, a business decision to move headquarters to Tokyo when your family is based in California will put strain on your relationship, not only with those closest to you, but also with yourself — especially if there is a language and cultural barrier," Dr. Mitchell states.

Dr. Mitchell has theorized the Burnout Equation. Burnout occurs when Energy outputs are greater than energy inputs and the energy currency refers to the quality of these three different relationships. This insight illustrates the need for a leadership style that embraces empathy, recognizes human costs and promotes holistic well-being while being mindful of these three critical relationships. She encourages fellow leaders to prioritize these relationships to mitigate the emotional toll of their leadership roles, achieving success for themselves and their organizations.

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