How to make mental health at work a leadership priority.

Introduction

Mental health at work is just as important as physical health. In fact, it's even more critical now because of how our lives have been affected by uncertainty in the last two years. Each and every one of us has been negatively affected by the hectic and unstable business environment around us. 

Many leaders have been put under significant stress due to the cumulative effect of Covid-19 on the business. Not only that, but they also have to deal with staff shortages resulting in burnout of the existing staff. In addition, they are now being asked to protect their staff member's mental health and give it a top priority, which may be causing them to feel even more stressed and anxious.

So, What can we do? 

I am not a mental health expert or a practitioner, and I understand that I may not have all the answers. However, I hope this article below may be helpful for people wanting to protect their own mental health and the mental health of their team members.

Leaders support themselves:

Be realistic with your own expectations.

All leaders have non-negotiable deliverables and KPIs to follow. However, there are a lot of times we spend an extensive amount of time perfecting a presentation or a report. Remember what's important to you and your role. Reduce the extra work you were doing and only focus on the priorities. This may make you feel in control and help you achieve your KPIs without any friction. 

If your boss has unrealistic expectations, then maybe it's time for you to have an open conversation and provide productive feedback. Try to set clear boundaries and timeframes and prepare for alternative plans. 

You may want to ask for help or collaborate with other leaders to achieve your targets and goals. Create a workflow that suits you and has more reasonable timelines. The most important thing is to maintain a healthy work-life balance. 

Work in cooperation with your team

During this uncertain time, you may feel like it's your responsibility to deal with all the problems. As a leader, we usually think that it is our job to hold the team together. However, everyone needs support. So, work with your teams to develop solutions and discuss your individual challenges. You might also want to join a forum or ask for help from like-minded people in similar positions. 

By collaborating with others in your team, you will also be able to identify your team member's unique strengths and capabilities. This can help improve the project's overall quality and help build a more empowered team. 

Set aside "Worry Time"

We often put too much time into overthinking about the worst-case scenario. This can lead us to a downward spiral and eventually affect our mental health at work. 

To worry isn't always bad. Some worries allow us to remember the outcome and change the course of action. For example, when we were worried about the spread of Covid-19, we washed our hands regularly and followed the guidelines.  

When we are in control or understand the outcome, our worry will help us keep safe, but when we don't have control over a situation, the same worry can transform into stress and anxiety. 

However, managing our worries is essential because we do not want them to affect our mental health at work. To manage the trouble, you may want to nominate a particular time in your day when you can sit and think out all the outcomes of a situation. Make sure to give no longer than 30mins a day and choose a place where you usually feel uncomfortable. This is because we do not want to make a habit of worrying in our happy or peaceful areas, such as a bed.

Once you finish, then stop overworking the scenarios in your head. You can then turn all your focus into productive and positive thoughts.

Leaders support their teams:

Understand Mental health policies and resources from your company.

Mental health issues can often be a taboo topic in the workplace. However, educating yourself on what type of support your company offers and how to access those benefits is important. Not just for yourself but your team as well.

When one of your employees is experiencing mental health issues at work, they may not have the understanding to wade through the system and figure it out. As a Leader, you should encourage them to get the help they need by providing a clear roadmap.

If a team member shows a sudden change in mood or behaviour, is withdrawing from social interactions, or is having difficulty concentrating, these could be signs of mental health issues. If you are concerned about an employee's mental health, have a conversation with them in a confidential and supportive manner. Encourage them to seek professional help if necessary. Most companies have access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Make sure to share the details of EAP with your employee. 

Educating yourself on mental health support available at your workplace and being proactive about addressing concerns can create a more supportive work environment for all employees.

Be the Role model

As a good leader, you must set an excellent example for others by protecting your mental health. Your actions and attitude can help eliminate the stigma associated with mental health problems. Talk about what you do to protect your own mental health and encourage them to do the same.

Show your vulnerable side to your team by telling that about your challenges. This will allow them to open up and talk freely about their issues. Talk to them about the importance of taking time off work and the advantage of a healthy work-life balance.

Try not to contact your employees after hours or on their days off. This will help you set boundaries and make employees feel valued as their personal time is not invaded. By prioritizing your own mental health, you are empowering your employees to do the same and make intelligent decisions on how to protect their mental health.

Foster open communication

Establishing an open line of communication with your team members about their work, well-being, and mental health issues is more important than ever. Open communication helps teams collaborate and create a sense of harmony.

Be transparent when communicating with your employees. The more you share and help the team, the more they will reciprocate. This will help foster a culture of respect amongst the team. It also helps them to tackle the issue with more strength and courage.

Set a time to meet with your team regularly and provide genuine feedback. Be approachable and get to know your team on a personal level. With that said, be genuine about communication. Don't communicate for the sake of making everyone feel valued. If your communication doesn't have an actual purpose, your team will lose confidence, resulting in them feeling pressured to attend meetings and respond to emails.

Help your team find purpose at work.

When people have a clear vision and purpose of their work, know what goals they have to achieve, and are genuinely connected with the bigger picture, they often feel empowered and have low levels of stress.

In general, having a sense of purpose gives people direction. It enables them to understand the significance of the job. Additionally, it also helps with greater mental health and fewer incidences of stress or anxiety.

You can help your team find their purpose by carrying out regular discussions. Set SMART goals with the employees with their personal growth in mind. Support internal career development and encourage employees to participate in new opportunities. Provide support to your employees, not only at work but think of ways you can provide them support outside of work.

As a leader, you can help them improve their outlook, self-confidence, and mental health if you actively assist them in finding meaningful purpose.

Conclusion

The truth is that 1 in 6 people experience mental ill-health every month, and 45% of Australians will experience mental illness in their lifetime. It will be tough to predict what will happen in the coming years. With the after-effect of Covid-19 still lingering and the world going through turmoil, you can never be prepared to tackle all the uncertainties.

However, making deliberate decisions to prioritize mental health at work can give your company an advantage. According to research, every $1 spent to improve mental health returns $4 in productivity. It not only helps to tackle the problem of staff shortages but also helps to attract new employees to your company.

A positive mental health culture at the workplace gives employees the confidence to be themselves at work and feel like they belong. Working in a mentally healthy workplace will also increase job satisfaction and provide clarity to the workers.

When leaders focus on a mentally healthy workplace, their odds of achieving their goals increase exponentially.