While holding a position of responsibility is a rewarding experience, it’s also a challenging one. Luckily, there are ways to manage it, while also looking after your own needs

Have you ever taken on a position of leadership and ended up feeling the pressure? Whether it’s stepping into a management role at work, helping to run a voluntary organisation or community group, overseeing an am-dram production or being part of a sports-club committee, there are many ways you can find yourself in a position where other people are looking to you for leadership and guidance. But with these roles come added responsibilities and stresses – not to mention a sense of isolation when you realise your former peers have begun to view you a little differently. Looking after your mental health and wellbeing is important as you face these new challenges.

What makes a leader?

A leader is often thought of as a person in the upper echelons of management – the bosses, company directors, team leaders and business owners. Certainly, these people will feel all the pressures of leadership and may not have a support system in place for themselves. But a leader can be anyone in a position of responsibility – be that in their professional or personal life – and it’s important to remember that some people find themselves in those roles simply by being good at what they do.