Wellbeing is increasingly being recognised not as a luxury but as a fundamental element of a healthy and effective organisation. This perspective is especially pertinent in local government, where leaders face intense ongoing pressures from organisational changes, public scrutiny, and political complexity. Jessica Mullinger, director of interim management at Solace in Business, highlights the critical need for leaders to actively protect their mental health to sustain their effectiveness during challenging times such as local government reorganisation (LGR) and devolution.

Leaders in local government are not merely managers or strategists; they are pivotal emotional and organisational anchors during periods of change. Mullinger emphasises that wellbeing is integral to leadership itself, influencing decision-making, judgement, resilience, and credibility. The Local Government Association (LGA) echoes this view, placing personal resilience and wellbeing at the top of the essential skills, values, and behaviours required of leaders. The LGA notes that leaders who demonstrate self-awareness and practise self-care encourage a cultural environment where others feel permitted to do the same, fostering a healthier organisational climate.

For leaders navigating transformative changes, Mullinger suggests several practical steps to safeguard their mental health. First, reconnecting with core purpose and values—such as service to the community or fairness—can provide a steady anchor amidst uncertainty. Second, cultivating peer and external support through networks like Solace, the LGA, or ALACE helps reduce isolation by offering spaces to share not only strategic insights but personal struggles. The use of external mentors or coaches is recommended for gaining perspective and reinforcing personal stability, enabling leaders to operate authentically. Third, leaders are advised to closely monitor their workload, delegate non-core tasks, and empower senior team members with clear responsibilities. This ensures leaders maintain capacity buffers and can bring in external support to ease pressure points when necessary.

Beyond individual strategies, Mullinger stresses the importance of creating organisational conditions that promote wellbeing. Investment in leadership development, resilience training, and fostering a culture that normalises conversations around stress, failure, and limits are essential. Initiatives like the Public Sector Challenge encourage physical exercise, social connection, and mental resilience, embodying the holistic approach to wellbeing that local government organisations are beginning to champion.

The LGA supports these initiatives by providing resources aimed at integrating health and wellness into workplace values and practices, recognising their role in cultivating a happy, high-performing workforce. Positive workplaces that prioritise mental and physical health enable employees to develop their potential, improve productivity, and cultivate creativity. Furthermore, councils also take leadership beyond their walls by promoting active lifestyles through environmental redesign and green space investment, addressing physical inactivity known to exacerbate long-term health issues.

Emotional resilience emerges as a vital competence for local government leaders amid budget constraints, public scrutiny, and political challenges. Experts advise building this resilience through self-awareness, emotional regulation, prioritising mental health, and practising positive self-talk and reflection. Such strategies empower leaders to maintain clarity and calm, ultimately fostering an atmosphere conducive to effective leadership and positive community relations.

In an environment marked by resource limitations and high expectations, prioritising wellbeing is a strategic necessity. By supporting leaders with peer relationships, purpose anchoring, role clarity, and systems that ease organisational friction, local government can maintain the resilience and credibility of its leadership cadre. The benefits are far-reaching, enhancing not only individual leaders' sustainability but also the morale and performance of staff, the quality of services delivered, and the wellbeing of communities served.

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Source: Noah Wire Services