{"id":1623,"date":"2026-03-23T10:35:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T10:35:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.opticapro.pt\/en\/?p=1623"},"modified":"2026-03-30T10:37:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T10:37:31","slug":"take-care-of-yourselves-with-the-same-dedication-with-which-you-take-care-of-others","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.opticapro.pt\/en\/2026\/03\/23\/take-care-of-yourselves-with-the-same-dedication-with-which-you-take-care-of-others\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cTake care of yourselves with the same dedication with which you take care of others\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We are living through a period of major change, in which the value of interpersonal relationships and trust remains central across many fields of activity, particularly those connected to visual health. The way teams are guided and welcomed is decisive for the success of our organisations. We spoke with Ana Paula Ruiz, psychologist, specialist nurse, and researcher in Occupational Health Psychology, whose multidisciplinary perspective and humanistic stance have inspired new ways of leading and promoting well-being in the optical sector.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What motivated you to look at the optical sector from a psychological and organisational perspective? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The optical sector is fascinating and challenging: it combines science, technical precision, and, at the same time, a high relational and emotional load. Every day, professionals deal with clients in vulnerable situations \u2014 whether because of vision, aesthetics, or health \u2014 and that interaction requires more than technical knowledge. It requires empathy, active listening, the ability to manage emotions, and clear communication. What motivated me was precisely this human complexity. I believe that by strengthening teams\u2019 psychological resources, we can not only improve organisational outcomes, but also enhance the experience of professionals and clients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What kinds of psychological resources do you consider essential for professionals in the optical sector? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resources such as self-efficacy, that is, the belief that we are capable of facing challenges successfully; hope, which allows us to set clear goals and stay focused even in adversity; realistic optimism, which balances a positive outlook with critical analysis; and resilience, which enables us to bounce back after setbacks. These four factors are central to maintaining emotional balance, motivation, and connection to professional goals, especially in demanding contexts such as optics. They are skills that can be developed, trained, and that make a difference in mental health and performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can leadership in the sector promote a healthier and more productive environment?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transformative leadership begins with the way we look at people. Listening to them, valuing their ideas, treating mistakes as learning opportunities, and giving regular, sincere feedback are simple actions that build safe and motivating environments. Small gestures, such as recognising good service or involving employees in decisions, increase a sense of belonging and engagement. In addition, emotionally available and empathetic leaders are key to preventing burnout and promoting collective well-being. Leadership here is not only technical \u2014 it is human, relational, and strategic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the full interview in <\/strong>\u00d3pticaPro magazine 273<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In times of change, trust and interpersonal relationships remain central to visual health. Ana Paula Ruiz highlights a humanistic approach that inspires new leadership and well-being practices in the optical sector. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1624,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.opticapro.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1623"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.opticapro.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.opticapro.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opticapro.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opticapro.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1623"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.opticapro.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1623\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1625,"href":"https:\/\/www.opticapro.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1623\/revisions\/1625"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opticapro.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1624"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.opticapro.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opticapro.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opticapro.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}