Who Supports the Supporters?

The Hidden Strain on Leaders

Let me ask 3 simple questions

1. Are your senior leaders experiencing high levels of workload stress and anxiety?

2. Do you give them a confidential platform to talk about these pressures?

3. Could you do more to support them?

Here’s how

A safe space to talk open and honestly about their feeling and emotions free from judgement and fear of repercussions.

Too often, we focus wellbeing efforts on tick box exercises, a free coffee, a poster on the wall about mental health, access to a basket of fruit and overlooking care for the ones at the top who are silently carry the weight of the organisation.

I’ve seen it countless times:
CEOs feeling they must project confidence while quietly red-lining themselves

Senior leaders absorbing high levels of stress

HR teams supporting everyone else

Recently, I reached out to the CEO of an organisation I support.

Just a simple message:
“Are you okay?”
No agenda. No expectations. Just a human question that doesn’t get asked enough, especially to the person at the top.

Their reply:
“Thanks for asking.”

It landed more deeply than I expected.

In a role where you’re expected to always be in control, always have the answers, it’s rare to be seen just as a person.

That’s one of the reasons I built the Salus Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Not a tick-box EAP.

But a human-first support system that acknowledges stress, burnout, and emotional load exist at every level, and offers real conversations, not just coping tools.

Often it’s not about overhauling entire routines, it’s about making small, deliberate changes that unlock big results.

In my coaching, I’ve seen clients transform their focus, energy, and sense of control by making adjustments that seem simple on the surface but create a ripple effect in their work and life.

One client recently reduced stress and improved focus by building short buffer zones between meetings, giving themselves time to reset, capture ideas, and arrive at the next Teams meeting with a clearer head.

Another saved considerable cognitive load by focusing on just three MITs (Most Important Tasks) each day and then asking, “what’s the next MIT?”, which reduced firefighting, conserved energy, and created consistent daily progress.

Small Shifts, Big Wins

Because leadership is lonely.

Salus is here to make it less so.

It’s designed to provide leaders with:

• A confidential outlet for stress, pressure, or decision fatigue
• Structured support to strengthen resilience and focus
• Practical strategies that improve both leadership performance and wellbeing

The programme is structured around five core components:

1)  Vision & Purpose – Align WHAT with WHY and HOW.

2)  Mindset & Psyche – The space where emotional intelligence meets resilience (EQ + Grit).

3)  Stress Management – Tools to identify, manage, and reduce pressure.

4)  Growth – Personal capability, adaptability, and mastery.

5)  Action – Turn insights into daily habits and long-term impact.

Programme benefits include:

• 1 × 60-minute One-to-One Coaching Session each month via Zoom/Teams

A dedicated time for focused exploration, reflection, and goal planning.

• Weekly Check-ins via Email/WhatsApp/SMS

Ongoing support and accountability to maintain progress and momentum.

• A Safe Space to Talk

Real-time access to a coach offering a safe, judgment-free space to talk

• Additional Access via SMS/WhatsApp

Timely support when challenges arise, offering guidance in the moment.

• Additional 15 min – 30 min Momentum Meetings

Quick-response coaching to address urgent issues or decisions without delay.

• Weekly Wellness Bytes

Bite-sized, actionable insights to keep wellbeing and performance aligned.

• 6-Month Programme Appraisal

A full review of progress, impact, and future steps.

If you’re reading this and thinking, ‘Our leaders could use this’ and are interested to find out about how the Salus EAP could work for your senior team, let’s have a conversation.

Just an honest discussion about what support really looks like at the top.

Message me directly or email nicky@nickyforster.com with the subject line SALUS and we can set up a time to talk.