Immo Salonen’s Post

Resilient leadership starts with well-being—and this gathering proved what’s possible when leaders prioritize both. BoardWalk Consulting recently partnered with the Jesse Parker Williams Foundation, United Way of Greater Atlanta, and The Annie E. Casey Foundation to co-host a three-hour immersive well-being experience for a cohort of Atlanta nonprofit CEOs and senior leaders. Led by Y Falami Tyson-Devoe PhD and Shawnta Hooks, the session moved beyond a traditional workshop. Leaders engaged in sound healing, Qigong, meditation, and creative expression—while learning science-backed frameworks to shift stress into clarity and embed self-care rituals into daily practice. The impact was clear: ✅ 100% of participants found the session valuable ✅ 94% want more offerings ✅ Teams are already weaving these practices into staff culture At BoardWalk, we know strong organizations depend on strong leaders—and strong leaders thrive when their well-being is prioritized. ➡️ Read more: https://lnkd.in/eMHvsaJ9

Burnout is not a badge of honor. In the Middle East, too many high-performing professionals wear exhaustion like it’s proof of commitment. But burnout isn’t commitment , it’s collapse in slow motion. Here’s how authentic leaders protect themselves (and their teams) from it. 1.Model boundaries, don’t just preach them → If you send emails at midnight, your team thinks they should too. 2.Redefine success → Move from hours worked to outcomes achieved. Efficiency > exhaustion. 3.Use cultural strengths → Family, faith, and community aren’t distractions , they are resilience tools. 4.Schedule renewal, not just work → Prayer breaks, walks, or even silence , these aren’t luxuries, they are leadership strategies. 5.Lead with honesty → Saying “I need rest” doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human , and that humanity earns trust. I’ve coached thousands of executive leaders across the region. Again and again, the most effective ones are not the ones who worked the longest hours , but those who worked from clarity and balance. P.S. Burnout doesn’t build legacies. It buries them. 👉 Want practical ways to lead with clarity (without burning out)? P.S. Join my free newsletter for 21-day leadership strategies delivered straight to your inbox. https://lnkd.in/dcJfunhh

SELF LEADERSHIP FIRST Excellent leaders know that knowing themselves is the key to building excellent relationships. When leaders are self-aware, emotionally regulated, compassionate, and committed to continuous growth, whilst remaining grounded in integrity, they create the conditions for trust, connection, and sustainable high performance. This strong platform is the key for cultivating positive relationships. Yet, some leaders miss the mark. They speak about wellbeing, but neglect to practice self-leadership. When this happens, it can feel inauthentic and often falls flat with their team. The teams I coach that thrive most are those with leaders who prioritise wellbeing in their everyday actions. In today's world, self-leadership is not optional. It's the foundation of creating a thriving wellbeing culture. To truly embed wellbeing into your workplace, it must begin with leaders who live it, model it, and practice it every day. Next month, Kate Harrison and I are facilitating a wellbeing workshop - Know Yourself, Thrive in Relationships - at work and at home. If you're interested in attending details are below. #selfleadership #leadershipwellbeing #wellbeingleadership #thriveatwork #wellbeingculture #wellbeingcoach #highperformancecoach #leadershipdevelopment #thrivingteams #leadership #workingmums #selfawareleader #positiverelationships

Weekend reads for Wellness 📚 -  blog post 5 Leadership or Happiness? While doing desk research for my part-time PhD, I came across this interesting article “Well-being of formal leaders: A critical and interdisciplinary review of predictors shaping leader well-being” by Burak Oc & Kraivin Chintakananda published in The Leadership Quarterly, 2025. It reminded me how complex and often overlooked the leader’s experience can be. Takeaways: ✅ Leaders are under pressure. Since the pandemic, work demands have increased, along with leaders’ desire to support their teams—yet over 80% report rising emotional exhaustion. ✅ Supporting others comes at a cost. Leaders often respond to team crises effectively, but are left managing their own stress—mentally and emotionally—without sufficient support. ✅ Self-efficacy matters. Leaders who believe in their own ability to lead well report better wellbeing and stronger performance. ✅ Well-being is contextual. It’s shaped not just by individual traits, but by team dynamics, organizational culture, and broader societal systems. If we want leaders to care for others, we must also care for them—with resources, training, and realistic expectations, so they can remain responsive to their team’s needs and people around. Let it be Leadership AND Happiness. What’s supporting your well-being as a leader these days? What do you need more (or less) of? #weekendreadsforwellness #wellbeing #leaderswellbeing #leadership #employeewellbeing #HR #coaching #wellbeingcoaching #organizationalculture Disclaimer: the post is based on personal reading list while diving into the topic of leadership.

Every day, I witness the quiet courage it takes for brilliant leaders to let go and lead in new ways. This morning’s session started with a CEO staring down a familiar crossroads: “I know I need to empower my team more… but when it matters, I just step in and fix things myself.” We unpacked the pattern. They asked me “am I the only one who struggles with this?” No. In so many organizations, help is offered as a quick solution….step in, patch the issue, rescue the situation, everyone moves along. If this sounds like you, here’s what to ask yourself: What if your version of helpful is quietly holding everyone back? What if your real power lies in letting go so your team can rise? What if your greatest gift isn’t fixing…. but equipping? Safety breeds stagnation. It feels good in the moment, but over time, it breeds co-dependence and burnout… for both the leader and the team. In the executive coaching part of my work, I love the process of empowering leaders to serve with less hand holding and more empowerment.. Less rescuing, more releasing. The reward? When they finally let go, not only do their teams soar… the leaders themselves are freed to lead at a higher level. Letting go isn’t abandoning, and it isn’t losing control either… Letting go can be one of the most lasting kind of leadership.

At times of uncertainty and upheaval, positivity can feel like a luxury — but for leaders, it’s actually a responsibility. In a recent Forbes article, Amy Blankson explores how to stay positive as a leader during bleak times, offering practical, research-backed strategies from the field of positive psychology. Her insights are a timely reminder that how we show up as leaders shapes how our teams weather challenge. Here are some key takeaways: 🔹Limiting media overload can reduce burnout. Setting boundaries protects focus. And focusing on what’s within our control helps us model calm, steady leadership. 🔹This isn’t about ignoring reality. It’s about staying grounded, clear, and hopeful — especially when it’s hard. When leaders do that consistently, trust grows and teams stay connected. 🔹Small practices like thoughtful check-ins, digital wellness norms, and moments of reflection can go a long way. If you’re leading through complexity, this article is worth the read: 👉 http://bit.ly/3ILMuPN #LeadershipDevelopment #PositivePsychology #LeadingThroughChange #WorkplaceWellbeing #ResilientLeadership

🌍✨ Clarity Modeling: Building Leaders of Global Wellness™ Most leadership programs teach strategy. Few teach structure of self. Even fewer teach emotional architecture. At Peaceful Ascension Institute, we realized: You can’t build global wellness on shaky internal scaffolding. So we started modeling clarity—not just in what we say, but in how we hold space. 🧠 Practical Tip: Before any major decision, ask: > “Is this aligned with my emotional architecture—or just my ambition?” 📊 Leaders who practice clarity modeling: - Report 2x higher team trust - Experience 35% fewer miscommunications - And are 3x more likely to sustain wellness initiatives across cultures Clarity isn’t charisma. It’s coherence. It’s the reason your message lands, your team breathes, and your mission scales. If you’re building leaders for global wellness, Start with the blueprint inside. Model clarity. Then teach it. ClarityModeling #GlobalWellnessLeadership #EmotionalArchitecture #PeacefulAscension #KeepTheDialogueGoing #Showyourself

Exodus 18:18 Leadership That Lasts: From Burnout to Breakthrough In the wilderness, Moses exemplified the dedicated leader, tirelessly serving and shouldering the weight of an entire nation. However, his father-in-law, Jethro, recognized the toll this solitary approach was taking on Moses and offered a timeless truth: leadership was never meant to be borne alone. Jethro's counsel, rooted in both practicality and prophecy, emphasized the importance of delegation in leadership. By entrusting responsibilities to capable individuals, Moses could focus on his unique roles of interceding, teaching, and leading with clarity. This shift not only enhanced efficiency but also ensured sustainability and growth for the entire community. Today, this principle remains essential across various leadership domains, be it in ministry, education, healthcare, or the workplace. Leaders who attempt to carry the full burden often encounter burnout and strained relationships. Conversely, those who empower their team through delegation and mentorship foster a culture of shared ownership and collective success. For spiritual leaders, the significance lies in equipping and empowering others who share a common devotion to God and truth. By nurturing a community of empowered servants, the impact transcends any single individual, contributing to the growth and vitality of the collective body. If you find yourself overwhelmed, remember Jethro's wisdom. Embrace delegation, mentorship, and trust. Involve others, guide them, and witness the renewal of your strength as you focus on your unique contributions. Sustainable leadership is not about shouldering the load alone but about uplifting others to share in the journey.

Availability doesn’t equal leadership. If you’re always on — answering every call, replying to every message, reacting to every ping — you’re giving away the mental space you need to lead with perspective. Boundaries aren’t about shutting people out. They’re about protecting the energy and clarity that make you most effective when it counts. The Sustainable Practices and Resilience & Adaptability dimensions in the Professional Wellness Program aren’t abstract ideals — they’re habits leaders use every day to stay clear-headed, responsive, and grounded. Because when you can step away without the fear of everything unravelling, you can step back in with more focus and influence than before. ❓ What’s one thing you’ve done to protect your “off” time — and how has it changed your leadership? #CultureOfExcellence #IntentionalLeadership #ProfessionalWellness #Leadership #SchoolLeadership #EducationalLeadership

Resilience isn’t built in the crisis, it’s built long before it arrives. Many leaders rely on wellness programmes. They help, but the strongest leaders also create personal systems they can call on daily, long before the pressure hits. For me, those systems came through years of endurance sport, the cold, the fatigue, the setbacks. And in 2023, they carried me through months of chemotherapy. In this short video, I share why resilience is less about reacting in the moment and more about preparing your mind in advance, so when adversity inevitably arrives, you’re already equipped. This is also the focus of my keynote, Maximising Mental Resilience: How Leaders Prevent Burnout. If your team is planning leadership events or development sessions, I'll be happy to share more. Feel free to message me here or via my website. #LeadershipDevelopment #Resilience #PreventingBurnout #HRManager