Is there a creative practice you’ ve set aside, one that could bring you energy, clarity or playfulness if you allowed it back into your life— not for performance, not for an audience, but for the simple renewal that comes when your mind is free to wander?

BREAKOUT: No one will care for you better than yourself Renewal begins with the basics. Before strategy, before frameworks, ask if you’ re covering your essentials. l Are you drinking good, clean water every day? l Are you breathing deeply, or pausing for even five minutes of meditation? l Is your nutrition balanced enough to give steady energy, not spikes and crashes? l Do you move your body daily, in ways that feel strong and nourishing? l Have you made time for connection, laughter and social grounding?

These may sound simple, but they are foundational infrastructure. When the basics slip, everything else begins to wobble. Renewal can’ t expand outward if the basics are ignored. The truth is simple: No one will care for you better than you. And no one else can do it for you.

Culture as renewal Well-being leaders in particular carry a unique responsibility to live the practices they advocate. That responsibility isn’ t a burden. It’ s an opportunity. When you walk your talk, you create cultures where resilience becomes ordinary.

At one property, burnout was quietly accepted as normal. The leadership team began small experiments: weekly huddles that ended with a shared breath, walking one-onones in place of conference rooms and one day each week kept deliberately light on meetings. Within months, the tone of the place shifted. Staff felt supported rather than squeezed, and guests remarked on the ease they sensed. The culture reset itself not through rules, but because leaders walked their talk.

THE FIRST STEP IN RESILIENCE

PART 1: Reset for Resilience— Taking Stock of Your Current State as a Leader appeared in the November 2025 issue of Pulse.

Culture becomes more resilient when leadership presence shifts from pressure to steadiness, from extraction to restoration. That shift ripples far beyond operations. It shapes how people feel in the work, and how guests feel in the space.

Renewed leadership, your way When leaders protect rhythm, recovery and culture, the payoff shows up on the balance sheet. Staff stay longer, absenteeism drops and productivity rises. Guests who feel cared for return more often, spend more and share their experiences. The ROI of resilience is measured in retention, revenue growth and brand equity that compounds over time.

Each of these stories illustrate how taking a holistic approach to your leadership allows resilience to weave itself into your life, steadying and strengthening the work you lead. Carry these ideals forward with intention, protecting your rhythm and balance.

Let this be a parting gift to yourself: a practice of leadership designed for resilience, capable of sustaining you while uplifting everyone you touch. n

More on leadership and resilience

Leah Crump is the author of Be Well, Do Well: A Field Guide to Work That Heals, Leadership That Lasts, and Living Well on Your Own Terms. The book explores sustainable approaches to leadership, resilience and well-being in the modern workplace.

LEAH CRUMP is an award-winning consultant and trusted voice in luxury hotel spa and wellness. With more than two decades of experience, she advises hotel groups, owners and founders on new hotel developments, renovations and strategies that refine operations and elevate guest experiences. Through advisory leadership, development consulting and tailored well-being programming, Crump and her team deliver profitable solutions without compromising on luxury. Recognized for her forward-looking insights, she frequently speaks on the future of wellness, conscious leadership and innovation in hospitality.

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