Today, the global pandemic has not only made a devastating effect on our physical but has also done a lot of damage to our mental health. In reality, a lot of people are facing mental health problems and levels of stress they’ve never had to deal with before. While the pandemic has changed the working norms of the world, leaders face both a great opportunity and challenge in helping people maintain positive mental health. In this time of need, leaders need to take responsibility for creating cultures that facilitate preventive mental health training and support for their team.
In this modern era, a leader is responsible for much more than just the work and the performance of their employee. We must constantly appreciate and be responsible for supporting our people to become their best. Slowly, companies have realized the need to become proactive and address the causes of mental health lapses.
Let’s discuss how you can, as a business leader support the mental health of your employees.
Lead
As a leader, your role is crucial in maintaining a mentally healthy workplace and your actions and behaviors set the tone for the rest of the organization. Leadership is always about leading by example. The best way to validate the behaviors of your employees is to model yourself first.
You have a tremendous influence over how your employees are feeling and thinking. In the context of mental health, instead of just talking to your employees about its importance, tell them how they should practice self-care. Try to practice self-care, set boundaries, and let your employees know how you maintain your mental health.
Stay Connected
Every day, make time and spend it with your team members by talking to them one on one or in groups. Even though your team members are introverted and enjoy the opportunity to work without interruptions, they must be in contact with their managers and colleagues.
Destroy the Mental Health Sigma
It is natural that even though we know so much about mental health, depression, psychology, and depression, mental health therapy carries a stigma. A lot of people are afraid to take therapy with a perception that may hurt their career prospects and value as employees.
As a leader, you can show your vulnerability by showcasing your mental health struggles and how to deal with them. If you open up about your mental health, employees feel comfortable and try to follow you. Acknowledging the existence of mental health problems is the first step to tackle them.
Implement Workplace Mental Health Training
Prevention is always better than cure. Focus on preventive mental health training and company practices that support mental health self-care and implement them. Be flexible and review the organizational norms and rules and modify them to support preventive mental health care. Whenever you make a change in the organization, make it clear to your employees that you’re doing it to support the mental health of your workforce.
Employees with better mental health also result in increased productivity. To get the best out of your employees, you must find the fine balance of influencing and motivating them to succeed. Also, by addressing the mental health needs of your workforce, you push your organization to succeed.
