Hey Reader,

I know you’re managing a lot right now, but you're not alone. Collectively, we're navigating what some call a polycrisis—the convergence of multiple interconnected crises that create a situation with heightened uncertainty that is challenging to manage and wrap our heads around. With funding cuts, political and economic shifts, information overload, and constantly changing priorities, you may be feeling overwhelmed.

That’s why, now more than ever, it’s essential to secure your oxygen mask first—so you can support your team in doing the same and keep moving your important mission forward.

This is particularly important as a team leader. Research shows that stress and anxiety can be contagious and detrimental at high levels if they’re not addressed. So, being able to skillfully manage your mental and emotional climate is a critical skill for leading your team during challenging times.

As flight attendants remind us: “In the event of a sudden drop in pressure, an oxygen mask will drop from above. Secure your own mask first before assisting others.”

This concept also applies to pouring into yourself personally and professionally. If you’re consistently pouring from a full or overflowing cup, you set yourself and your team up for sustained long-term success. Otherwise, your cup runs dry, you burn out, and your mission suffers.

As you navigate what’s ahead, I want to share six essential commitments for supporting your well-being while you lead your team through this challenging season. Collectively, I call these the P.A.U.S.E. for Change Commitments. I write about them in detail in How to Thrive When Work Doesn’t Love You Back: A Practical Guide for Taking Care of Yourself While Changing the World.

Pause—Regularly pause to refill your own cup so you have enough to pour into others. Consider:

• Time-blocking daily start-and-stop routines to set boundaries.
• Proactively scheduling time off or personal days to recharge.

Align—Be clear on your personal and professional "why" to guide decisions. Reflect on:

• Your personal legacy and what you want to be remembered for.
• What inspires you to keep going, especially in challenging times like now.
• How these values shape daily priorities for you and your team.

Understand—Increase emotional intelligence to enhance interactions and decisions. This includes:

• Recognizing and naming the emotions you and your team may be feeling about this week.
• Validating both your own experiences and those of your team to foster safety and connection.

Serve—Serve at your best by minimizing distractions that hinder mission-critical work:

• Limit excessive meetings and digital interruptions.
• Prioritize focus time for the most impactful tasks.

Engage—Regularly engage with your team (and not just in times of crisis) by:

• Being fully present and actively involved in their day-to-day work.
• Regularly assessing and responding to their needs.
• Communicating transparently about challenges, expectations, and upcoming changes.

As you take time to plot a path forward, I invite you to pause and check in with yourself. What do YOU need to be okay right now? Take a moment to catch your breath and refill your own cup.

Then, get back to doing the good work.

Remember, you are smart, strong, and resilient. This isn’t your first time facing massive change and disruption and coming out on top.

Keep on keeping on,

Meico

P.S. I'm offering a new mini-workshop series on Leading Your Team Through Change and Uncertainty. Feel free to invite a friend or colleague. Learn more and register at https://signup.mindfultechie.com/resilientleader25.

This free series is designed for mission-driven leaders seeking support in guiding their teams through times of change and uncertainty. If you're a mission-driven leader, CEO, executive director, board member, supervisor, or manager, this series is for you.

I’ll share practical, actionable strategies to help you cultivate resilient leadership—for yourself and your team. Throughout this series, we’ll explore key practices for leading with intention, resilience, and compassion in uncertain times. What we’ll cover:

• Cultivating Resilient Leadership in Uncertain Times
• Creating a Sustainable Culture of Well-Being at Work
• Team Care Strategies for Challenging Times
• Taming Team Collaboration Overload

Learn more and register at https://signup.mindfultechie.com/resilientleader25.

About Your Facilitator

Hello Changemaker! It’s nice to meet you. I’m Meico Marquette Whitlock.

Imagine a world where leaders and teams don’t just grind through the day but thrive in their work, without sacrificing their well-being. That’s the world I’m working to create.

I’m here to help you embody what it means to truly thrive and know your well-being is your greatest asset.

As a workplace well-being strategist, I’m on a mission to help purpose-driven leaders rewrite the narrative of success. I believe that impactful work doesn’t have to come at the cost of your health or happiness, and I’ve made it my life’s work to show you how.

I’m the founder and CEO of Mindful Techie, author of How to Thrive When Work Doesn’t Love You Back and The Intention Planner, and a certified trauma-informed mindfulness teacher.

I partner with mission-driven organizations to create cultures where belonging, balance, and purpose take center stage. In a world full of burnout and overwhelm, I help you navigate life, work, and technology in harmony.

During my previous career in the tech, nonprofit, and government sectors, I experienced more than my fair share of burnout and overwhelm in the name of making a difference. As a recovering workaholic, I use what I’ve learned to help changemakers like you make an impact without self-sacrifice.

I partner with you to create strategies and deliver programs that help your team scale impact while sustaining the right balance between life, work, and technology in today’s changing world.

I have worked with organizations such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Cigna, and Greenpeace, and have been a featured speaker on ABC News, Fox 5, and Radio One. I'm also a former triathlete, love salsa dancing, and make the world’s best vegan chili! :-)

Did someone forward this email to you? Subscribe for free here!​