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THE CHALLENGE23Managers are being charged with navigating theneeds of an ever-evolving workforce, includingtuning into employees’ personal struggles, economicchallenges, and uncertainty in the job market. Stakesare high for leaders managing changes in theworkforce: organizational changes are associatedwith a decrease in employee satisfaction,engagement, and productivity (2).On top of that, roughly 2/3 of managers report thatmental health challenges have taken a toll on theirability to function in their job over the past year (3). Itis critical that leaders are also supported – just asthey support their teams. 1A guide to supporting your people and yourself.Beyond any legal or HR requirements, what ismy role and responsibility in caring for myemployees’ mental health and wellbeing?How can I have tough conversations withemployees while respecting their mental healthand wellbeing?What is the best way to help employees recoverafter organizational changes or crises occur?Recent studies show thatmanagers have as muchinfluence on an employee’smental health as their spouseor partner, and more influencethan that of their doctor ortherapist (1).A Leader's Guide toMental HealthI N T H I S G U I D EThis resource shares some ofthe top questions managersare considering whennavigating the workforcelandscape and provides bestpractices to equip leaders tosupport their employees’mental health and wellbeing,as well as their own.COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONSWhat is the best way to take care of my ownmental health and wellbeing?
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COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONSFirst and foremost, leaders must be aware of the implications of stress, life challenges andmental health conditions for employees, but be cautious to not assume the role of a therapist or clinician, who are professionals trained to support individuals with behavioralhealth needs. Instead, there are ways that managers can engage with their employees to offer appropriatesupport and to connect them to any additional care they may need. What is my role in caring for my employees’ mental health and wellbeing? It can be daunting for leaders and manager to hear that they have a significant impact on anemployee's wellbeing and play an important part in the employee experience that affectsretention and business productivity. START with tuning in to what makes us human. All humans have both physiological andpsychological needs. As a manager, one of the greatest muscles you can exercise is empathy,driven by active listening, truly leaning in to understand an individual's experience. When anindividual feels heard and understood, they are more likely to feel connected.TO BECOME A MORE EMPATHETIC LEADER, TAKE INTENTIONAL ACTIONS: Be present – eliminate distractions as much aspossible when having tough conversations. Get curious – ask questions and listen tounderstand. Hold space – refrain from passing anyjudgments. Stay self-aware – monitor your own emotions,feelings, and thoughts. For tips on buildingemotional intelligence skills, check out thisguide. Identify and overcome biases – our brains arehardwired to categorize incoming informationso that we can quickly make sense of the worldaround us. As a result, we unconsciouslycategorize people as well, and must activelywork to combat and overcome any biases.
What is my role in caring for my employees’ mental health and wellbeing?continued..."Psychological safety is the shared belief that team members are safe to takeinterpersonal risks” (4). Simply put, when team members are psychologically safe, theyfeel they can express their opinions and ideas without fear of humiliation, make mistakeswithout fear of extreme repercussions, and even challenge the status quo. Safety is abasic human need and critical for employees to feel they can contribute effectively atwork. Leaders can help to build psychological safety by establishing norms and providingan environment that allows for reciprocal feedback and sharing. CREATE A WORK ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY. BECOME A KNOWLEDGEABLE RESOURCE SEEK ONGOING TRAINING Leaders cannot solve all of their employees’ needs, norshould they be expected to do so. However, the mosteffective mangers keep a pulse on the needs of theiremployees and anticipate any hurdles, while allowing forthe ebb and flow of reasonable work challenges. One ofthe best ways to be supportive is by having knowledge ofall of the benefits and resources available to anemployee through their organization and in their localcommunities. By advocating for employees and helping them to gain access to resources, leaders cango a long way in breaking down barriers for employees to receive adequate care.Mental health and psychological safety training hasbecome a recognized and valuable coaching option forleaders, local managers, and teammates in anorganization. These trainings can provide helpfuleducation around signs to be aware of for individualswho are experiencing mental health crises and how toeffectively respond. In addition, other types of training,whether around stress management, resiliency, andcommunication skills can help leaders to hone their skillsand prepare them to coach their teams.
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONSHow can I have tough conversations with employees while respectingtheir mental health and wellbeing? Identify an appropriate time, place,and scenario for conversation.Work with your HR team to ensureappropriate plans and procedures.Secure privacy for the meeting.Provide fact-based, direct informationand feedback. Foster open communication.Pause and reflect before reacting ortaking action (5).Show care and empathy.Practice appropriate self-regulation.CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING TIPS TO NAVIGATE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS:Connect with your HR teams to ensure best practices.Meet with employees to keep them informed of changes and manage expectations onany transitional processes.Determine and communicate short-term goals.Encourage employees by remaining positive yet realistic, and validating any concerns.Identify an appropriate time, place, and scenario for conversations.Regardless of the situation, sharing difficult news is not easy; however, in the currentsocial and economic climate, and with increased challenges around mental health andwellbeing, leaders are facing even more pressure to support their people.What is the best way to help employees recover after organizationalchanges or crises occur?COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
REFERENCESManage physical health needs, includingpreventative care and chronic conditionmanagement, as well as regular exercise Determine nutrition needs Establish nightly routine and regular sleep patterns Cultivate balance in all areas of your life Manage stress in positive, healthy waysLimit alcohol and other substances Invest in a support system-include a mentor,colleagues, and family members/friends, and spend regular time with these individualsENGAGE IN POSITIVE HEALTH BEHAVIORS & HABITSBE CONSISTENT AND INTENTIONAL WITH YOUR TIMESet clear boundaries around time, including specifics regarding work and personal time Identify best communication and collaboration practices and ensure teammates are aligned Develop systems and processes for workflow & delegate tasks as appropriateSet SMART goals for self and team to stay on track Integrate blocks of time for self care and mindfulnessWith all of the pressures and responsibilities that managers face, remaining relentlesslyinvested in caring for your own mental health and wellbeing is critical to effective leadership.A lack of commitment to your own wellbeing can be detrimental to you and your teams.1. Workforce Institute at UKG. (2023). Mental Health at Work: Managers and Money. Retrieved fromjjjjjhttps://www.ukg.com/sites/default/files/2023-01/CV2040-Part2-UKG%20Global%20Survey%202023-jjiiiManager%20Impact%20on%20Mental%20Health-FINAL.pdf2. Sucher, S. J., & Gupta, S. (2023, January 10). A better, fairer approach to layoffs. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from jjjjjhttps://hbr.org/2018/05/layoffs-that-dont-break-your-company3. Lyra Health4. https://rework.withgoogle.com/guides/understanding-team-effectiveness/steps/foster-psychological-safety/5. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/how-to-demonstrate-calm-and-jjjjoptimism-in-a-crisisWhat is the best way to take care of my own mental health and wellbeing? COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS