Why mental health matters in business
Are you feeling refreshed after the break, but anxious about getting back into the 9-5 routine?
Workplace wellbeing has always intrigued me, and its something I am passionate about.
Whether we put pressure on ourselves, or it comes from an external source, as humans we can only take so much stress before it leads to burnout.
Technically, burnout is caused by sustained workplace stress, with little or no recovery.
And often the people who suffer from burnout, are the high achievers. Those that put their crash helmet on and continue to drive themselves forward so that they can achieve what is expected of them, or what they expect of themselves.
Even if you haven’t reached the level of burnout, stress and/anxiety stemming from the workplace sucks, and is no fun for anyone. And as employers and managers, we have a duty to make sure this is not happening amongst our teams.
So, what can we do to ensure we minimise stress and burnout for our teams and ourselves?
Build in time to rest and recover. This might mean taking short but consistent breaks between tasks, taking 5 minutes to catch up with a colleague, ensuring you stop at lunchtime, or even limiting your working day to 8 hours and then switching off
Make sure everyone has clear job requirements and expectations – and that these don’t fluctuate causing confusion and anxiety. Most people will feel more capable and on top of their work if they no what is expected of them, and that there is consistency in their routine. When an employer continuously moves the goal posts it can be both frustrating and unproductive.
Build a team environment. Camaraderie and a feeling of inclusiveness amongst a team can go a long way to reducing stress in the workplace. Creating an environment where everyone feels supported will allow people to lean on each other for help and should bring a certain level of happiness to all.
Ensure you have processes in place that will help to build trust, provide support, and resolve conflict. Having an open-door policy, as well as good relationships within your team, goes a long way to support this.
Seeking support doesn’t always need to happen internally either. Talking to a friend, mentor or other external support group will also go a long way to reducing stress leading to burnout in the workplace.
Lastly, building a health and wellbeing policy can be a great way to ensure you are providing the best for yourself and your employees. After all, the mental wellbeing of all people matters.