There The main difference between a boss and a leader is that the first commands his team, the second directs it and contributes to collective success, working side by side with colleagues. This is why women need to be better prepared for this role and why it is important that those who carry out this task acquire and develop a range of cross-cutting skills which include the ability to understand employee well-being and to understand how to have a positive impact on their mental health. The task is delicate and far from obvious, according to a recent study by the UKG Workforce Institute, according to which 69% of people believe that their manager has a greater impact on their mental health than their therapist or doctor., and the same influence as your partner. Thus, the stakes for leadership are very high, so a good level of awareness of one’s role is needed.
According to a study cited Forbes43% of employees report fatigue, and 78% believe that stress negatively affects their work. But that is not all: 71% believe that stress at work has a negative impact on family life. 64% believe it affects personal well-being and 62% believe it worsens relationships. On the other hand, when people protect their mental health, they are more focused on their work (63%) and have more energy (80%). However, some managers seek to “protect” their employees by overworking themselves and agreeing to work overtime at any time of the day or night without involving the team. However, this behavior has a negative impact on both the health of the individual and the health of the group, which by definition looks to its boss as a role model. How then to be a positive example for others? According to a study by the Workforce Institute, 70% of people want their manager to do more for mental health, and these are the ways you can do it.
How to make a positive impact on the mental health of colleagues
First of all you need to learn how to manage yourself: Only when you truly become the masters of your own time can you manage the time of others. Learn to say no, don’t overburden yourself, and if you can’t at all, resist the urge to take on the full load. Start delegating, put responsibility on others, coordinate them: trust them. The reported study highlights the importance of empathize, which can have unexpectedly positive consequences in terms of innovation, commitment, loyalty. Start asking people how they feel, tune into their problems, try to show your willingness to help them when they seem to be in trouble: little tricks that apply to both managers and colleagues.
Research shows that it is possible to have a positive impact on people’s well-being. make sure you are available and responsive. How? For example, start responding quickly to emails and messages by giving people clear directions on how and when to contact you. This is not about availability 24 hours a day, but about clarifying the time, place and methods. This will help avoid misunderstandings and build mutual trust. And more: be available for mentoring sessions, organize work so that people collaborate across departments, and consider networking events that strengthen relationships between colleagues.
Don’t extinguish the fire of challenges: healthy competition is essential to spur creativity, increase motivation and increase incentives.. As the English say: A rolling stone gathers no moss. Then make sure you give your co-workers the opportunity to show off, grow, improve, and even make mistakes. Talk to your employees, learn to ask what they expect from their role, the answers will surprise you: not everyone dreams of promotion in any particular department. Some would just like to follow a notable project, others would prefer a couple of days a week of smart work, others dream of gaining experience in new areas.
Sure, some jobs provide more flexibility than others, but allowing autonomy where possible goes a long way towards employee well-being. The best leaders take care of their mental health and pay attention to the health of their team. To have such a strong influence on people is no small feat. The stakes are high, but so are the chances of success. When the leader goes the extra mile, the team will do the same.
Source: Elle