Women, Wellbeing, and Leadership - Important Questions to Reflect on in the Wake of a Pandemic Crisis
I recently had the opportunity to hear a very inspiring woman in leadership speak, Dr. Carolyn Clancy, Acting Deputy Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs in the United States. This was through the Lunch with Leadership event organized by Women in Healthcare Inc on June 14, 2021.
The pandemic has had a significant impact on women. A Forbes article from April of this year, highlights the effects on women’s wellbeing, whether that is on their workload at home, on their health or in the workplace. It is hard to deny that the pandemic has disproportionately disadvantaged women.
Dr. Clancy made a statement that really resonated with me and continues to in the days following hearing her speak and I really needed to share it. She commented on how there were many things we had to stop doing in our work and personal lives in order to focus on addressing the pandemic. Dr. Clancy challenged us to not pick up all those things, as we begin to return to normal, just because we had done them in the past.
As a woman in a leadership role, I heard that call and I want us all to reflect on it for ourselves. It often seems our quest is to do more, be more. However, I would also argue that our quest is to have good mental health and overall wellbeing.
I ask all of us to self-reflect on whether we need to go back to doing all the things we used to do before the pandemic.
Are there things we can let go of?
This applies in our workplaces; can we do without that meeting?
It also applies to our home lives; do our kids really need to join another scheduled activity?
Do we really need to wash those floors right now?
Talking about mental health in the workplace is more important now than ever. I challenge us to be brave in our workspaces, whether that be from our own homes or from the office. Let’s examine what we used to do before we pick it up and start doing it again, just because we have always done it that way. Let’s support one another as we figure out what is essential.
What a powerful conversation this could be.
So, what are you going to let go of?
What might you gain in terms of your mental health?
Lauren Scott - Director of Peer Support Services, MHI