Put your own “oxygen mask” on first: A behavioral typology of leaders' self‐care

Abstract Organizational leaders are essential in implementing, interpreting, and even proactively initiating changes for human resource (HR) functions to enhance workplace productivity and well‐being. However, recent studies have cautioned that providing positive and supportive leadership usually drains these organizational leaders. Although the literature has shed light on how leaders can use self‐care strategies to recharge, researchers and HR professionals know relatively little about (1) what specific self‐care actions leaders can take and (2) how external crises such as COVID‐19 constrain leaders' self‐care actions. To identify specific leaders' self‐care behaviors, which we refer to as oxygen masks, we interviewed 41 healthcare managers in Australia during the COVID‐19 pandemic in 2020. We presented a behavioral typology summarizing distinct oxygen masks that leaders used at different points in time. These oxygen masks include improving physical well‐being, improving emotional/spiritual/social well‐being, fulfilling managerial roles, and seeking collegial and organizational support. Moreover, we concluded that the COVID‐19 restrictions made some of these oxygen masks less accessible, negatively impacting leaders' well‐being. Our research conclusions have implications for theory and future studies on extending the literature associated with leadership development, leaders' resilience, and leaders' well‐being. The results also provide HR professionals with practical suggestions about assisting line managers in improving their self‐care and sustaining their leadership effectiveness.