This Is What Leaders Should Be Doing to Boost Mental Health

As the pressures of the pandemic drag on and winter brings shorter, colder days, the mental health of your employees is even more important than usual. Worry, stress, and anxiety have negative effects on productivity and effectiveness—not to mention overall health and personal relationships. As a leader, you’re responsible for supporting your employees’ mental health. Here are some basic areas where you can begin:

Create a safe space. Mental health issues are often a source of fear and stigma, and many leaders avoid them entirely. Instead, work to bring it out into the light. One way to start is by asking your top leadership team how they are and how their people are. Create a safe space for people to speak freely when they need help and support.

Keep communication flowing. When people are well informed they are less stressed and less anxious, so make sure you’re communicating clearly and fully and that your people feel fully informed. Keep communication flowing well at all levels and across functional areas—don’t just communicate at the top and leave the rest of the organization in the dark. Be honest and forthcoming, communicate often, and don’t avoid difficult conversations.

Reduce overload. If people are working from home, there’s a good chance that they’re putting in longer hours than they would if they were coming into the office. Remind people that they should stop for lunch, take breaks, and log out at the end of the work day—and make sure that you lead through example by doing those things yourself.

Provide resources. One of the best ways to support employees’ mental health is to provide access to mental health services such as counseling,  therapy, and addiction treatment. If your health care plan doesn’t include these services, work to set up discounted programs with counselors and experts. Be proactive; don’t allow the mental health of your employees to become an issue.

Incorporate balance. You’d think that working remotely would make work-life balance easier to maintain, but that’s often not the case. Let your people know that it’s normal to have a life and that they’re free to incorporate a midday workout, take time to deal with family and household issues, and just disconnect for a while. In return, they’ll have more energy and focus when they’re working.

Maintain regular check-ins. Meeting regularly with your employees—in person or online—can help build a culture of acceptance and transparency. It also gives you a chance to stay connected to the culture and informed about what’s going on.

Mental health affects how your people think, feel and act. It’s an important issue, both in the personal realm and in the workplace. Take care of your people, stay connected and give them your best.

Lead from within: Addressing mental health in the workplace may seem like an insurmountable task, but it starts with small, intentional and thoughtful steps to let your people know you care about them.

 


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The Leadership Gap
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After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.

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Lolly Daskal is one of the most sought-after executive leadership coaches in the world. Her extensive cross-cultural expertise spans 14 countries, six languages and hundreds of companies. As founder and CEO of Lead From Within, her proprietary leadership program is engineered to be a catalyst for leaders who want to enhance performance and make a meaningful difference in their companies, their lives, and the world.

Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.

  1. Christine

    05. Jan, 2021

    Thank you for your article/blog that addresses how leaders can support their employees mental health.

    I am surprised that you don’t mention mindfulness-over all health and wellness coaching in your resources. There’s is a wealth of health resources a fitness and health coach can provide leaders as well as their employees—and clients!

    Having been in corporate and non-for profit organization as a leader -turned mind + body fitness and health Coach -I know and feel very passionate about providing these beneficial services in the workplace. Not only does this benefit everyone’s # asset —their health but when employees are healthy -it improves the company profit/services.

    Reply to this comment
  2. Kenneth Loughman

    14. Jun, 2021

    For the last few days, I noticed my team member are reducing their work efficiency. I want to boost up them. That’s why I was searching some tips in the internet. After reading your article, I followed your tips & I was successful to boost up them. Thanks for sharing this valuable information.

    Reply to this comment
  3. Bill Turner

    16. Jul, 2021

    In your article, you discuss about important part. I have a team in my office for complete our works & I lead the team. After reading your article, I realize that I should reduce their work for increasing their mental health. Thanks for remaining this.

    Reply to this comment
  4. Matilda Nicholson

    30. Jul, 2021

    Managing things and motivating others while you are stressed yourself is something leaders experience every time. In this blog, you have clearly mentioned the best ways to boost mental health as a leader.

    Reply to this comment
  5. JesseA

    30. Nov, 2021

    Awesome blog. I really like this concept of stress leave as today we all are dealing with corporate stress. Although I follow blogs on iahas.com to reduce my stress using ayurvedic remedies. I will definetly add your blog to my list.

    Reply to this comment
  6. myOnsite Healthcare

    23. Feb, 2022

    Amazing Post. Worth Reading it

    Reply to this comment
  7. Atul Pandey

    11. Jun, 2022

    Mental health issues are often a source of fear and stigma, and many leaders avoid them entirely. good information for mental health and you provide full information about mental health.

    Reply to this comment
  8. Herbert Harris

    04. Jul, 2022

    Thanks for sharing such an awesome info

    Reply to this comment
  9. mrgfusroyalcare

    27. Jul, 2022

    “Wellness is not a ‘medical fix’ but a way of living – a lifestyle sensitive and responsive to all the dimensions of body, mind, and spirit, an approach to life.
    Awesome blog. I really like this concept of stress leave as today we all are dealing with corporate stress. After reading your article, i learned so many things about how to overcome the stress and anger management . Thanks for sharing this valuable information.

    Reply to this comment
  10. Jeniffer

    27. Jul, 2022

    Great post. Enjoyed reading it.

    Reply to this comment
  11. Diana Jenson

    13. Aug, 2022

    The blog gives me so much to learn. I truly loved it.

    Reply to this comment
  12. Tom Walter

    25. Sep, 2022

    Great post and I will surely forward it to others.

    Reply to this comment
  13. Justin Smith

    26. Sep, 2022

    Great Blog. I love it very much.

    Reply to this comment
  14. Livis Crik

    16. Nov, 2022

    This is something really useful.

    Reply to this comment
  15. Aniket gupta

    31. Dec, 2022

    Hello Lolly Daskal, Your post is Worth reading and is very helpful and beneficial for us. Thank you for this much-needed article.

    Reply to this comment
  16. Rajshree Raut

    05. Jun, 2023

    Your blog post was a refreshing take on the subject. I appreciated the unique perspective you brought to the table, which made the content engaging and thought-provoking. To explore more, click here.

    Reply to this comment
  17. Sandip

    21. Jul, 2023

    Awesome blog. Nowadays, stress is the most common problem for all working professionals all over the world and it really affects us. I liked the way you mentioned how leaders can support their employees’ mental health. There are so many things to learn from your blog. Thanks for sharing it.

    Reply to this comment
  18. Mark Donald

    26. Jan, 2024

    This article is a game-changer. I’ve gained so much knowledge from reading it. Thank you! To explore further

    Reply to this comment

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