Senior Political Figures:

Leaders, especially politicians are hurting right now but hey let’s not talk about it! To talk about it would mean we would have to acknowledge there is a problem.  Houston we have problem no one wishes to acknowledge!

I genuinely feel for leaders in the political realm right now. No doubt today's politicians are facing unprecedented challenges, and yet our expectations on them are higher than ever before. But the question begs who do they turn to in their quiet moments? No one can sustain the superhuman expectations placed on them from EVERY quarter and yet day in and day out the expectation remains. 

Have you ever noticed how mental health is palatable to talk about in the workplace at an employee level but NOT in the context of Senior Executive Leadership? Stigmatization exists.

Unaddressed impairment in political leaders can harm the individual and their family and be devastating to the vitality of the party regardless of size or mission.

Although politicians are afflicted as often and severely as other groups, the very nature of their achieved status often contributes to significant denial and barriers that often delays the process of identifying problems and receiving practical support given who they are.

Through direct research I have conducted, four domains are creating the current paradigms in existence. What is needed?  More dialogue, more support, and more empathy for those we look to for leadership at the highest level.

How do politicians display Self-leadership?

Or more importantly, navigate the terrain of unprecedented uncertainty. Maintain so-called 'work/life balance', in their role and still honour their values?

Deal with unexpected media attack / online social media trolls / opposition supporter's rhetoric / calculated demonization?

How do they deal with their own internal inner critic dialogue in light of the degree of external abuse?

Maintain being a good husband, wife, mother, father, sister, brother, daughter, son, friend, colleague, leader, public figure etc and still, navigate the hours expected of them in their role?

Deal with substance abuse/ destructive addictions, i.e. alcohol, drugs/gambling, sex addiction, extreme weight gain/weight loss?

Cope with bouts of severe depression/suicidal tendencies?

On the home front, what do politicians do when the following scenarios occur? They cannot afford the media to get a hold of it! So who do they talk/turn to?

If their marriage is not going well?

Somethings happening with their child/children, i.e. suicidal, cutting themselves or being promiscuous, or something of this ilk?

Infidelity by their intimate partner?

Someone in their immediate family is not behaving in a way that profiles them in the best light?

Physical and or emotional abuse (narcissistic bullying) by their partner?

Children completely and utterly disassociated – communication strained if non-existent?

Regarding the debating chamber, how do politicians:

Recalibrate when the opposition has challenged them in a way that has ultimately sideswiped them?

When called to account by the speaker of the house still stand their ground and still maintain their equilibrium?

Uplevel and stop invalidating the opposition and stay on message about their parties views?

Both when in the chamber and when they are in the media eye?

Navigate the almost superhuman expectation of knowing EVERYTHING on tap real-time for their specific portfolio/portfolio's?

Avoid being impacted by constant judgment through media polling results & in the chamber?

In terms of team party culture, how do politicians deal with:

In- fighting between cabinet ministers?

Whistleblowers who are leaking information to the media from their party????

Rumours about changing of the guard, challenging their position when the key focus needs to be stabilizing the culture NOT any further disruption at the helm?

Toxicity/ Inhouse bullying in their ministerial team?

Having courageous conversations to call the pink elephant in the room ALWAYS in a way that gets results?

As the landscape changes, so too should the terrain. The irony, social distancing globally due to the Covid 19 pandemic has created more connection/association in ways that one could never have imagined. Leaders pre-covid who were unwilling to grow, evolve, change before are now being forced to change. A high percentage, however, are unfamiliar with the terrain of 'uncertainty'. We will not be returning to what was, nor will we be able to navigate the future using traditional linear leadership practices.

The narrative needs to be more focused on how we can help those holding office, those holding the most senior levels of leadership – support is our biggest strength NOT our biggest weakness – So the questions begs? Why is more not being done in this arena – we may have a viral pandemic going on but we also have an urgent pandemic of a different nature going on ‘an unspoken, unacknowledged issue of grave repercussions that if not addressed will impact the stability of the leadership landscape globally!’