You Are Not a Therapist: The Fine Line Between Successful Leadership and Therapy
Since I started my journey as a young leader already almost 3 years ago, I’ve often found myself navigating the delicate balance between supporting my team and maintaining professional boundaries. It’s a challenging line to walk, where empathy meets the need for clear, effective leadership. This balance is crucial, as crossing it can lead to blurred roles and expectations, both for me and my employees. When I joined a podcast as a guest last month, this topic came up and had me thinking. So I thought I’ll share my thoughts here:
Leadership, at its core, involves guiding and inspiring others to achieve common goals. It requires a deep understanding of team dynamics and individual motivations. However, it’s easy to slip into a therapist-like role when team members bring personal struggles into the workplace. Especially trends like “servant leadership” and “gentle leadership”, made it much more challenging to separate work life reality of leadership and personal support reality of every individual. While being a supportive leader is important, it’s equally vital to remember that we are not trained therapists and that we also have a business context.
So to be an efficient, yet empathetic leader, I found the following guidelines very helpful:
Setting boundaries
One of the key lessons I’ve learned is the importance of setting boundaries. As leaders, we should foster an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing challenges, but we must also recognize when to redirect them to appropriate resources, such as HR or professional counseling services. You are not alone in this. Make sure to not be blinded by a false pride. This approach ensures that team members receive the support they need while allowing us to focus on our primary role as leaders and mentors.
Maintaining objectivity
Emotions can run high in any team, and being empathetic is part of being a good leader. However, it’s crucial to avoid becoming emotionally entangled in team members’ personal issues. By staying objective, we can provide clearer guidance and make decisions that benefit the team as a whole. It’s fine to share personal experiences, if you feel comfortable, as it might help to create stronger bonds, but be careful not to get invested too much.
Clear communication
Setting expectations about our roles and the limits of our support can prevent misunderstandings. Encouraging open dialogue about work-related issues, while being transparent about the boundaries of personal support, helps maintain a healthy professional environment. Make sure these expectations are always in a shared presence. Bring them up, when personal topics come up. Make clear, when you don’t feel comfortable consulting on specific topics. Sure we should be servant leaders. This does not mean to give up our own needs.
I learned to use these tools to navigate the fine line between leadership and therapy. This way we can create a balanced environment that fosters both personal growth and professional success. It’s about being present, understanding, and guiding without overstepping into roles we’re not equipped to handle. This balance not only enhances our effectiveness as leaders but also empowers our teams to thrive. Stay true to yourself and communicate open and honestly.
