The Current Leadership Dilemma
In today’s dynamic workplace, leaders face a complex balancing act. The expectations are higher than ever – deliver results, guide teams with empathy, and safeguard their own wellbeing in the process. While the emotional intelligence and care that define great leadership are admirable, they also come with an emotional toll.
The result? Many leaders find themselves navigating burnout, role overload, and reduced personal satisfaction.
At Get Mentally Fit, we believe the solution lies in self-leadership. By integrating daily mental fitness tools, leaders can protect their wellbeing, sharpen their focus, and positively influence their teams. In this article, we share three evidence-based mental fitness tools that directly support self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-regulation – the pillars of self-leadership.
The Current Leadership Dilemma
Organisational leadership has never been more important – or more complex. While employees value empathetic leaders who prioritise team needs, this leadership style can unintentionally strain the leader’s emotional reserves.
In a world shaped by rapid change, digital fatigue, and constant demands, today’s leaders need both external and internal strategies to thrive. Equipping yourself with practical, science-backed mental fitness tools can reduce your risk of burnout, increase resilience, and enhance your overall sense of influence and wellbeing.
To help you really grasp some of these concepts, sit back, relax and listen from Lars Sudmann. Then read on…
The 3 Pillars of Self-Leadership
In his TEDx talk Lars Sudmann, a leadership expert, emphasises that great leadership starts with leading yourself. He outlines the three elements of self-leadership:
Self-awareness understanding your internal drivers, strengths, and limits.
Self-reflection: regularly examining your actions, thoughts, and decisions.
Self-regulation: managing your behaviour and emotions to stay composed and effective.
Let’s explore three powerful practical tools that support these pillars and can equip any leader for daily success.
1. Self-Awareness Tool: Leverage Your Character Strengths
Why this works: Research from the VIA Institute shows that leaders who identify and leverage their top character strengths enjoy greater:
Confidence and goal achievement
Energy and overall wellbeing
Stronger relationships and purpose
Stress management and work performance
Get started: Take the free VIA Character Strengths Survey to uncover your top strengths. Reflect on how you can use them in your daily leadership style – whether that’s leading with kindness, showing courage in difficult conversations, or bringing humour into high-pressure situations.
Discover everything you need to know in our related articles:
2. Self-Reflection Tool: Worry Time
Why this works: Worry Time is a structured method that gives your brain a psychological release valve. Instead of letting anxious thoughts interfere with your productivity or leadership clarity, you allocate a specific time each day to reflect and process them.
How to do it:
Set aside 10–15 minutes daily (outside work hours).
Write down your worries.
At the end of that time, shift your focus and move on with purpose.
Check out our related article: How to Stop Worrying So Much: Practical Strategies to Calm an Anxious Mind
3. Self-Regulation Tool: Mindful Gaps
Why this works: Mindful Gaps, inspired by Andrew Fraser’s “Third Space” concept, help leaders transition between meetings, tasks, and environments with intention. This mental reset enhances clarity and reduces overwhelm.
How to use it: Before stepping into your next meeting, take a 30-second pause to:
Reflect on what just happened
Regain focus on what matters now
Set your intention for the next moment
It sounds simple – and it is – but it’s also transformational.
Enjoy Healthier Leadership
The world of work is only becoming more complex, but leaders who invest in their mental fitness will remain adaptive, healthy, and influential.
Daily mental fitness isn’t about perfection – it’s about consistent intention. As you implement these tools, you’ll build the self-awareness, reflection, and regulation needed to lead yourself and others more effectively.
By developing a mental fitness toolkit, you’re choosing to show up for your team, your goals, and your wellbeing.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
At Get Mentally Fit, we specialise in training and coaching that empowers leaders to lead with clarity, confidence, and care. We tailor our programs to suit your leadership needs and workplace culture.
✅ Want to elevate your self-leadership and leadership impact?
📞 Get in Touch with one of our workplace wellbeing experts
📥 Or explore our Leader Support service and our Menu of team Mental Fitness Training options
Let’s build your control as a leader and a workplace where leaders – and their teams – thrive.
