Sustaining Yourself in Leadership Centering Rest, Purpose, and Joy April 21, 2026 Webinar Description Faculty leadership can be deeply meaningful. It can also be exhausting. This session creates space to reflect on how we sustain ourselves
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Presentation Transcript
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Sustaining Yourself in Leadership Centering Rest, Purpose, and Joy
April 21, 2026<br>
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Webinar Description Faculty leadership can be deeply meaningful. It can also be exhausting. This session creates space to reflect on how we sustain ourselves while advocating for our students and colleagues. We’ll explore how rest and joy can be intentional leadership practices integrated into your leadership and senate spaces, and how re-centering our values helps us maintain balance during busy or challenging seasons. We’ll discuss what rest looks like and how to build sustainable rhythms that protect your energy, prevent burnout, and help you reclaim the power and presence needed to lead.<br>
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Presenters – Relations with Local Academic Senates Committee Peggy Campo, Norco College
Stephanie Curry, ASCCC North Representative, Reedley College
Monica Esquivel, Pasadena City College
Patty Gomez, Chaffey College
Jeffrey Hernandez, East Los Angeles College
Heather Johnson, Irvine Valley College
Raul Madrid Jr., Ph.D., Mt. San Antonio College
Bethany Tasaka, ASCCC Area D Representative, San Bernardino Valley College<br>
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Welcome! Introductions in the chat – waterfall
Thoughts to contemplate:
When do I feel most energized in my leadership and when do I feel most depleted?
What am I holding onto that may not actually be mine to carry?<br>
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Centering Activity Arrive, Release, Reclaim
Take a deep breath in.
Slow Release
Pause & Reflect
What am I carrying into this space today?
Give yourself permission to set it down for this moment
Complete this sentence
Today, I give permission to..
Examples
Rest
Receive
Listen
Laugh
Be present
Not have all the answers<br>
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Naming the Reality Leadership asks us to:
Hold multiple perspectives at once
Navigate conflict with grace
Advocate for your colleagues and students
Be available to everyone everywhere all at once
Care deeply
Help others manage their expectations of you
When are we replenished?
The imbalance is real
We don’t often feel appreciated or validated<br>
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The Risk of Burnout If we don't find ways to sustain ourselves we may:
Overextended
Lose clarity
Feel disconnected
Resent the work we care about
Burnout is not a personal failure. It’s a systemic reality.
It isn’t YOUR fault.<br>
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Reframing Sustainability Sustaining yourself is not indulgent. It’s not selfish.
Sustaining yourself is:
Responsible
Necessary
Strategic
An act of leadership
You don’t need to do everything. Who else can step in?
Why would anyone else want to step into an impossible role?
Don’t become a martyr.
Model this for others: Create the work environment you want to be in.<br>
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Rest Is a Leadership Practice Rest does not mean stopping, quitting, or failure.
Rest may look like:
Pausing
Saying no
Delegating
Stepping back
Taking space to think
It goes beyond sleep.
Make your rest and struggles transparent.
What are other accessible and practical options for rest?<br>
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Reflection What does rest actually look like for you right now?
What do you do to sustain yourself?<br>
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Purpose as Anchor Reflect on:
What matters most to you?
What keeps you grounded?
Who do you serve?
How do you know when it’s too much?
How much are you willing to sacrifice?<br>
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Joy Is Not Extra Joy is not a reward after the work. It’s part of the work.
How can you find joy?
Small wins
Connection
Shared laughter
Collective progress
Reclaim your joy as a legitimate thing you’re owed, not something you’re lucky to experience sometimes.<br>
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Protect Your Energy Sustainable leadership requires boundaries
Saying “no” without explanation (not everyone is owed an explanation)
Not responding immediately (there’s power in the pause)
Letting others carry responsibility
Accepting that you cannot do everything
It’s okay to walk away (you are not a failure)
Boundaries can be uncomfortable
Many of us are conditioned to make others comfortable
What’s the cost?
Boundaries do not make you selfish<br>
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Let It Go You are not responsible for:
Fixing everything
Carrying everyone
Being everything to everyone
You are responsible for:
Showing up with integrity
Representing faculty voice
Acting with care and intention<br>
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Sustainable Rhythms Sustainability is not a one-time decision. It’s a pattern.
What do you regularly do that will sustain you?
What depletes you consistently?
What can shift?
This is a gentle self-audit, without guilt.
Be kind to yourself.<br>
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Reclaim Your Power When you’re exhausted, your power diminishes.
Reclaiming your power means:
Protecting your energy
Honoring your limits
Choosing where you want to invest your time
Leading from wholeness, not depletion
Remember you have agency!
What else can prevent you from burnout?<br>
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Your Community Is Your Support You do not need to sustain yourself alone.
Share leadership
Lean on colleagues
Build support systems
Normalize asking for help (model this!)
Remember - the institution will not care for you
Find your team and community.
Vent
Constructive feedback and honesty
Support
Find community outside of your discipline<br>
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Closing Reflection What’s one way you can protect your energy this week?
Could be small
Should be realistic<br>
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Key Takeaways Sustaining yourself is part of your leadership
Rest and joy are necessary, not optional
Boundaries protect your ability to lead
You are not meant to carry everything
Leading with care includes caring for yourself
You are not alone!<br>
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Leadership Series Webinar 1: Leading Without a Title: Authentic Leadership in Shared Governance
Webinar 2: Leading Authentically: Navigating Imposter Syndrome, Identity, and Power
Webinar 3: Sustaining Yourself in Leadership: Centering Rest, Purpose, and Joy<br>
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Up Next What Does It Mean to Volunteer for ASCCC Statewide Service?
May 5th, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Register: Register for the webinar here
Volunteering for statewide service is one of the most impactful ways faculty can contribute to the work of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges. This session provides a clear overview of what statewide service looks like, from the types of committees and service available to who can participate, how the appointment process works, and the typical time commitment involved. We’ll discuss how faculty can identify committees that align with their interests, strengths, and leadership goals, and how statewide service can deepen your understanding of systemwide issues while strengthening your voice in academic and professional matters. Join us to learn how to get involved and what to expect when serving at the state level.<br>
