Leader Health and Sustainability

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Stephen Smith

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    Leader health and sustainability matrix

    Smith’s (2012) research with 108 participants working in helping professions revealed a tension between ‘care of others’ and ‘care of self ’. This was also evident in the literature (Hart, 1984; Kets de Vries, 2006; Steinke, 2006). Participants diagrammed this tension as a matrix with two dimensions: care of self and care of others.

    Four quadrants were developed and described:

    Figure: Leader Health & Sustainability

    Stephen Smith and Murray Bingham. 2016. The dance of wounded souls: Improving leadership well-being and effectiveness. In Wellbeing, personal wholeness and the social fabric: An interdisciplinary approach, ed. J. Harrison, D. Costache, and D. Cronshaw. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Press.

    The Sustained Servant (High Care of Self and High Care of Others)

    This leader is willing to ‘give all’ for what he or she believes in but knows that without healthy balance this is short-term and selfish. He or she is self-aware, listens to others and builds their own accountability systems. Through positive modelling and healthy choices, this leader can help develop sustainability in others. This is the zone of personal ‘balance’.

    References: Howe, 1998; Kets de Vries, 2006; Minirth, Meier, Hawkins, Thurman & Flournoy, 1997; Quick, Cooper, Quick & Gavin, 2002; Reivich & Shatte, 2002; Richardson, 2005; Rohr and Martos, 1990; Seligman, 2002; and Swenson, 1998, 2004.

    The Self-Focused Spectator (High Care of Self and Low Care of Others)

    This leader is a constant survivor who thrives in situations where apparent care for others aligns with self-interest. They always gain in some way when serving others. They avoid transparency, their espoused values do not always match actions, and they will tend to create situations where this seems normal. This is the zone of ‘narcissism’.

    References: Bernstein, 2001; Cavaiola & Lavender, 2000; Kets de Vries, 1984; Meloy, 1986; Millon, et.al., 2000; Simon, 1996; Sperry, 1995; and Stout, 2005)

    The Self-Destructive Martyr (Low Care of Self and High Care of Others)

    This leader is usually driven to ‘martyrdom’ due to an unresolved inner drive (maybe guilt, obligation, inadequacy or perfectionism). They lack self-awareness and avoid accountability, actively working against their espoused goals by not modelling healthy behaviour. They tend to rescue and create co-dependent relationships. This is the zone of ‘drivenness and compulsion’.

    References: Cermack, 1986; Embleton, Axten, Blandford & Lavercombe, 1996; Friedman, 1985; Horney, 1937; Kets de Vries, 2001; and Sperry, 1991.

    The Wounded Slave (Low Care of Self and Low Care of Others)

    This leader feels numb, possibly depressed or burnt out, has disconnected from people around them and lacks energy or motivation to help self. They feel trapped and stuck in pattern of thinking and behaviour with no way out. They need professional counselling to take healthy next steps. This is the zone of ‘burnout and depression’ .

    References: Demerouti, Bakker, Nachreiner & Schaufeli, 2001; Grosch & Olsen, 2000; Hart, 1984; Leiter & Maslach, 2005; Maslach, 2003; Rothschild, 2006; Somech & Miassy-Maljak, 2003; and Virginia, 1998).

    References

    1. Cavaiola, A. & Lavender, N. (2000). Toxic coworkers: How to deal with dysfunctional people on the job. Oakland: New Harbinger.
    2. Cermack, T. (1986). Diagnosing and treating co-dependence. Minneapolis: Johnson Institute.
    3. Embleton, G., Axten, D., Blandford, V. & Lavercombe, L. (1996). Freeing ourselves from our family of origin. New Jersey: Aronson.
    4. Friedman, E. (1985). Generation to generation: Family process in church and synagogue. New York: Guildford Press.
    5. Friedman, E. (2007). A failure of nerve: Leadership in the age of the quick fix. New York: Church Publishing.
    6. Grosch, W. & Olsen, D. (2000). Clergy burnout: An integrative approach. Psychotherapy in Practice, 56(5), 619–632.
    7. Hart, A. (1984). Coping with depression: In the ministry and other helping professions. Waco: Word.
    8. Horney, K. (1937). The neurotic personality of our time. New York: Norton.
    9. Howe, L. (1998). Self-differentiation in Christian perspective. Pastoral Psychology, 46(5), 347–363.
    10. Kets de Vries, M. (1984). The irrational executive: Psychoanalytic studies in management. New York: International Universities.
    11. Kets de Vries, M. (2006). The leader on the couch: A clinical approach to changing people and organisations. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
    12. Leiter, P. & Maslach, C. (2005). Banishing burnout. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
    13. Maslach, C. (2003). Burnout: The cost of caring. Cambridge: Maylor Books.
    14. Meloy, J. (1986). Narcissistic psychopathology and the clergy. Pastoral Psychology, 35(1), 50–55.
    15. Millon, T., Grossman, S., Millon, C., Meagher, S. & Ramnath, R. (2000). Personality disorders in modern life. New Jersey: Wiley.
    16. Minirth, F., Meier, P., Hawkins, D., Thurman, C. & Flournoy, R. (1997). Beating burnout: Balanced living for busy people. New York: Inspirational Press.
    17. Quick, J. C., Cooper, G., Quick, J. D. & Gavin, J. (2002). The Financial Times guide to executive health. London: Prentice Hall.
    18. Reivich, K. & Shatte, A. (2002). The resilience factor: 7 keys to finding your inner strength and overcoming life’s hurdles. New York: Broadway Books.
    19. Richardson, R. (2005). Becoming a healthier pastor: Family systems theory and the pastor’s own family. Minneapolis: Augsberg.
    20. Rohr, R. & Martos, J. (1990). From wild man to wise man: Reflections on male spirituality. Cincinnati: St Anthony Messenger.
    21. Rothschild, B. (2006). Help for the helper: The physiology of compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma. New York: Norton.
    22. Seligman, M. (2002). Authentic happiness. New York: The Free Press.
    23. Simon, G. (1996). In sheep’s clothing: Understanding and dealing with manipulative people. Little Rock: A J Christopher & Co.
    24. Smith, S. (2012). Savouring life: The leader’s journey to health and effectiveness. PhD Thesis. University of Sydney.
    25. Somech, A. & Miassy-Maljak, N. (2003). The relationship between religiosity and burnout of principals: The meaning of educational work and role variables as mediators. Social Psychology of Education, 6, 61–90.
    26. Sperry, L. (1995). Handbook of diagnosis and treatment of the DSM-IV personality disorders. Bristol: Brunner-Mazel.
    27. Sperry, L. (1991). Determinants of a minister’s well-being. Human Development, 12(2), 21–26.
    28. Stout, M. (2005). The sociopath next door. New York: Broadway Books.
    29. Swenson, R. (1998). The overload syndrome: Learning to live within your limits. Colorado Springs: Nav Press.
    30. Swenson, R. (2004). Margin: Restoring emotional, physical, financial, and time reserves to overloaded lives. Colorado Springs: NavPress.
    31. Virginia, S. (1998). Burnout and depression among Roman Catholic secular, religious, and monastic clergy. Pastoral Psychology, 47(1), 49–67.

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