The Leadership Practice of
Checking In With Yourself During Trying Times
The world feels heavy right now.
Between political instability, economic uncertainty, violence, social injustice, and the constant churn of news cycles, many organizational leaders are carrying more than just organizational goals. We are likely carrying some combination of worry, fatigue, grief, anger, frustration, and responsibility all at once.
And particularly if you’re a woman of color in leadership, that weight can be even more layered. You may be holding your team together while also processing how world and life events land personally, culturally, and emotionally.
In moments like this, one question matters more than we often admit: Are you okay? Not “Are you productive?” Not “Are you performing?” Not “Are you getting your work done?” But are you okay?
Are you? Do you need support? Are things too heavy? Can you emotionally deal with all that’s going on right now? Because how you show up internally always shapes how you show up externally.
Your Leadership Presence Is Contagious
As a leader, your energy sets the tone. If you are anxious but pretending not to be, your team feels the tension. If you are burned out but pushing through, your team feels the strain. If you are grounded, self-aware, and supported, your team feels steadiness.
Leadership isn’t just strategy and execution. It also includes emotional climate. It’s nervous system regulation. It’s the subtle cues your team reads when they walk into a room or log into a meeting.
Impactful world events amplify this reality. Your team is likely feeling it, too. And they are looking, consciously or not, to see how you are navigating it.
That doesn’t mean you need to be perfect. It means you need to be honest with them, and with yourself first.
Checking In With Yourself Is Responsible Leadership
Self check-ins are often framed as self-care. But for leaders, they are a professional responsibility. Ask yourself:
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- What am I carrying right now?
- Where am I feeling depleted?
- What emotions have I not made space for?
- Am I reacting more quickly than usual?
- What do I need to feel steady?
When you ignore your own internal state, it leaks out in unintentional and unnecessarily messy ways through impatience, withdrawal, micromanaging, overworking, or shutting down.
When you acknowledge it, you gain choice over how you show up for yourself and those you work with.
Where Do You Need to Shore Up Support?
One of the quiet myths of leadership is that you should be the support system, not need one. That myth is dangerous – it fails to acknowledge your vulnerability and humanity.
Especially during trying times, isolation compounds stress. And women of color leaders are disproportionately socialized to “be strong” and handle stressful times with little support.
Strength is not silence. Strength is knowing when reinforcement is needed. Support might look like:
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- A therapist or spiritual practice
- Time off the grid
- Delegating more intentionally
- A trusted peer who understands the weight you carry
- A coach who gives you space to process and recalibrate
It’s important to get in touch with the kinds of support you need to lead well, both for you and your team.
Modeling What You Want to See
When you check in with yourself, you model permission for your team to do the same. When you name that times are heavy and you are taking steps to stay grounded, you normalize care, vulnerability and humanity in leadership.
You can say things like:
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- “There’s a lot happening in the world right now. I’m making sure I’m taking care of myself so I can be my best self.”
- “If you’re feeling the weight of things, let’s talk about what support looks like; our organization offers specific kinds of employee support if you need it.”
- “Let’s prioritize what truly matters this week.”
Some mistakenly consider this “soft” work, but being open to show your humanity is often the hardest work to do. This models maturity and people-first leadership, and builds trust.
You Don’t Have to Hold It Alone
If you’re reading this and realizing you’re more tired than you’ve admitted, if you’ve been leading through uncertainty without pausing to assess your own capacity, or if you’re holding both personal and professional weight in silence, this is your friendly reminder to check in.
Are you okay? And if not, what would support look like?
At The Brilliance Lab, this is the work I do. I support early- to mid-career professionals, especially women of color, in navigating leadership with clarity, steadiness, and authenticity. That includes:
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- Processing complex workplace dynamics
- Building sustainable leadership practices
- Strengthening confidence and presence
- Creating support structures that prevent burnout
You don’t have to figure it out alone. You don’t have to carry it quietly. And you don’t have to wait until you’re depleted to seek support.
If you’re ready to recalibrate how you’re showing up as a leader, especially in challenging times, I invite you to reach out.
Visit The Brilliance Lab to learn more about 1:1 coaching and current group and org-wide offerings. Or contact me directly to explore whether coaching is the right next step for you.
Your team deserves a grounded leader, and you deserve support in being one.
