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Managers and Leaders
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This section of the portal is a reflective learning resource for managers who are supporting staff or volunteers whose work may bring them into contact with grief, caring responsibilities, emotional labour, distress, death, dying or bereavement. It offers tools and guidance when supporting colleagues with compassion and reflect on our own wellbeing including risks of burnout.
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Below are four downloadable chapters and explanatory videos, each containing information, individual activities and individual reflections. You can try each one separately, pick and choose, or download all four chapters together at the top of this page.
Download all chapters
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Manager and leader workbook (1).pdf
Document
Manager and leader workbook (1).pdf (1.6 MB document)
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Team resilience
Resilience in the workplace is a topic we have heard a lot about in recent years. We all have a level of resilience and as a team, resilience means we are better equipped to effectively respond to the specific challenges we encounter in hospice settings. However, we are not resilient alone or without support.
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In chapter one, 'Team Resilience' you will find information and reflection activities on the following topics:
- Definition
- Organisational structures
Team specific challenges
Role of the manager
- Supporting our teams
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To download the worksheets from this chapter please see below:
Worksheet one: Individual activity - leading resilient teams
Worksheet two: Individual reflection - responding to your team's needs
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Supporting teams with compassion
In difficult life movements our teams often turn to us for guidance and support. The support you offer in that conversation can be vital and the more comfortable someone feels to share, the easier it is to handle these sensitive matters well.
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In chapter two, 'Supporting teams with compassion' you will find information and reflection activities on the following topics:
Definition
Difficult life events
Human being vs human doing
Compassionate leadership
Supporting our teams
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To download the worksheets from this chapter please see below:
Worksheet one: Individual activity - case scenarios
Worksheet two: Individual reflection - compassionate return to work conversations
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Leading with vulnerability
Leadership can feel like a daunting topic and we can feel the pressure to be perfect. In truth there is no step-by-step at being a ‘perfect manager’. Instead what we should be aiming for is building trusting, supportive relationships with our teams.
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In chapter three, 'Leading with vulnerability' you will find information and reflection activities on the following topics:
Definition
Management and leadership
Trust and vulnerability
Including vulnerability in leadership
Self-awareness
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To download the worksheets from this chapter please see below:
Worksheet one: Individual activity - ‘Being the manager I want to be’ activity.
Worksheet two: Individual reflection - preparing for vulnerable conversations.
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Managerial burnout
We are often passionate about supporting and inspiring our teams and work in the hospice sector because we care deeply. However, over time if we are unsupported, we can experience burnout and put pressure on ourselves, our wellbeing and the manager we want to be.
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In four one, 'Managerial burnout' you will find information and reflection activities on the following topics:
- Definition
- Spotting the signs
- What causes burnout in managers?
- Self-compassion
Prevention and support
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To download the worksheets from this chapter please see below:
Worksheet one: Individual activity - applying the five ways to wellbeing.
Worksheet two: Individual reflection - discussing managerial burnout with our
manager or HR team.
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Important information
It is important to note that these resources should be used alongside, not instead of, appropriate management support, supervision, occupational health, EAP, HR guidance and organisational wellbeing provision. It is not a substitute for clinical, psychological, occupational health, HR or emergency support.
If you need further support, please contact your organisation.
References for the videos
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Team resilience
- Bonanno GA. Loss, trauma, and human resilience: have we underestimated the human capacity to thrive after extremely aversive events? Am Psychol. 2004 Jan;59(1):20-8. doi: 10.1037/0003-066X.59.1.20.
- World Health Organization. Health promotion glossary of terms 2021. Geneva: WHO; 2021. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240038349
Supporting teams with compassion
- Steele W. Reducing compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout: a trauma-sensitive workbook. New York: Routledge; 2020
- Bailey S, West M. What is compassionate leadership? [online]. The King’s Fund; 2022. Available from: https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/long-reads/what-is-co…
Leading with vulnerability
- West M, Armit K, Loewenthal L, Eckert R, West T, Lee A. Leadership in health care: a summary of the evidence base. [online]. 2015. Available from: https://assets.kingsfund.org.uk/f/256914/x/9ccade5367/leadership_in_health_care_summary_february_2015.pdf
- Rousseau D, Sitkin S, Burt R, Camerer C. Not so different after all: a cross-discipline view of trust. Academy Management Rev. 1998; 23(4):393–404.
- Brown B. Dare to lead: brave work, tough conversations, whole hearts. New York: Random House; 2018.
Managers Burnout
- World Health Organization. Burn-out an “occupational phenomenon”: International classification of diseases [Internet]. World Health Organization. World Health Organization; 2019. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases
- Müller M, Jaroslava Kubátová. A systematic review of managerial burnout and personal crisis: Navigating the interplay of individual, organizational, and environmental factors. German J Human Resource Management. Zeitschrift für Personalforschung. 2025; ;40(1): 15-55.
