This Director’s Advice For Incorporating Self-Care Into Your Schedule Will Make You a Better Leader

We all know that getting a good night’s rest, staying physically active and building genuine relationships with others can improve our quality of life. Whether we actually prioritize these routines, though, is another story.

For Eva, a principal director at Accenture, forming healthy habits like these outside the workplace makes her a better team member within it. It also makes her a better leader. “The better physical and mental state I’m in, the better I can respond to the demands in my work and personal life,” she says.

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Achieving work-life balance is difficult for most of us no matter what field we’re in, but that doesn’t stop Eva from making “a very conscientious effort” to incorporate physical activities, mindful meditation and self-reflection into her busy schedule. 

She recently shared with us how she makes it all work — and if your day starts with a cup of coffee like hers, then you’re already on the right track. 

Tell us about your job. How long have you been in your current role, and what were you doing previously? 

I’m a principal director and I returned to Accenture one and a half years ago after working in the professional services area for similar firms. My job is to deliver large scale business transformation/IT projects and involves weekly travel to the customer site.

What’s the first thing you do at work every day? What about the last? 

I start my day by pouring myself a cup of coffee and saying good morning to my team. I then do a quick evaluation and prioritization of the tasks at hand and action as required for the remainder of the day. Prior to the end of the workday, I ensure that requests for action from other parties are sent so that I’m ready to go the next day.

What’s your favorite aspect of Accenture’s culture and/or your favorite company perk? 

My favorite aspect of Accenture’s Core Value is our access and commitment to the One Global Network: Leveraging the power of global insight, relationships, collaboration and learning to deliver exceptional service to clients wherever they do business. The access to intellectual and technical resources truly spans across the globe. Regardless of where my colleagues are in the world (and whether or not I know them personally), when I reach out with questions, I will always receive a helpful response.

What’s something you’re especially good at work?

Most of the time, to deliver my scope of work successfully, I need to assemble and manage a team. Rarely is the outcome of an initiative based solely on the contribution of a single individual. What makes me good at my job is the ability to identify the unique strengths and capabilities of an individual, and guide them to accomplish the task at hand. With an eye for the right talent and a solid understanding of what skills are required for the task at hand, I build diversified and high performing teams that consistently deliver.

What about outside of work? 

I make a very conscientious effort to focus on self-care outside of work. This can range from physical activities (e.g. long hikes, spinning) to mindful activities (e.g. meditation). The better physical and mental state I’m in, the better I can respond to the demands in my work and personal life.  

What’s the most memorable piece of career advice you’ve received?

Be self-reflective. I apply this not only to work but also to my personal life. Reflect on things that did not go well (make sure you don’t repeat the same mistakes), and also reflect on things that went well (identify the behaviors/actions that made you successful and continue to grow on them).

For women who are considering careers in consulting — or for those who are looking to shift to a new consulting role — what is your no. 1 piece of advice?

Embrace changes and get ready to keep learning! I’ve been in consulting for over 15 years now and I can honestly say that the pace of change is fast with emerging technologies and new business demands. On the positive side, things are never boring!

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