Everyone needs support sometimes because we all grapple with stress and have to work continuously to create positive experiences of health and well-being. As a leader, you may find that it is challenging to find others who will understand your experiences, or perhaps you have concerns about confidentiality. These are reasonable concerns, and it is possible to work around them to have support in place when you need it the most.

Some people you may consider for your support team:

• Family

• Close friends

• Former colleagues

• Mentors

• Connections through a professional association

• Conference connections

A support team can be as simple as a list of people you keep on hand so that when things get hard, you know you have someone to call. This shortlist means that you don't have to do the lift when you are deep in a stressful or emotional time and think of who you can call. It can be easier to combat the internal narrative that folks are too busy or wouldn’t want to talk with you since you’ve negotiated consent with them in advance.

Consent is the primary element for a support team, having an explicit conversation with someone to ask their permission before you are in crisis and need help. You may need to approach ten people to find three who are willing and able to say yes. It can feel disappointing when someone says no. One re-frame that may help is to think of “no” as a gift that others give you to navigate boundaries and expectations.