Whenever you research mental health in the workplace, there’s a lot of information on what employers can do to create a sound work environment for their employees. Although your team’s mental health impacts productivity, they’re not the only ones that matter. As a leader, you set the tone in the workplace. Your employees look to you for guidance, inspiration, and direction. If you’re not in the right place mentally, it hinders your ability to do your job effectively and lead with purpose.
A business owner, executive, or department manager struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, or overwhelming emotions will eventually taint their staff. Whether you’re lashing out in meetings, isolating yourself, or neglecting your health to the point that it affects your performance, these are things your employees will pick up on. When it boils over, it can put a damper on morale and productivity.
Improving Mental Wellness
So, how do you improve your mental wellness as a leader? You can do several things on your own or with the assistance of others to get you through emotionally challenging times. Continue reading for advice.
Be Transparent
Transparency isn’t just about company goals, decisions, or mistakes you’ve made. Sometimes, being transparent means having the courage to be vulnerable with your team about more profound issues. Though the idea is to keep your personal and professional lives separate, if something is going on personally that’s also affecting you in the workplace, you have to speak up.
You don’t have to go into details, but let your team know that you’re struggling emotionally. Then, assure them that you’re taking steps to improve. This way, they don’t take any odd behaviors as a sign that they’ve done something wrong. If you have a good team, they may even offer advice, a shoulder to cry on, or pitch in to pick up the slack while you get back on your feet.
Prioritize Health And Wellness
Although dealing with overwhelming emotions can make you feel like not doing much of anything, you must prioritize your health and wellness. Ensure that you’re still eating well-balanced meals, exercising, and getting enough sleep. You should also maintain grooming and skincare routines, indulge in activities outside of the office, and take a break when you need one.
Identify The Source
Unless you’ve always had problems with mental health, something happened to cause the shift. Identifying the source is the most effective way to come up with solutions. Evaluate your home and work life to see where things began to take a turn for the worse. Maybe you’re stressed about scoring a contract with a big client or worried because sales aren’t going as you projected. If that’s not the case, perhaps you’re going through a divorce, having a hard time grieving the loss of a loved one, or parenting a troubled teen.
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Eliminate Or Reduce The Problem
Now that you know what’s harming your mental health, you’re ready to deal with it accordingly. Determine whether the underlying problem is something you can eliminate. For instance, if you’re suffering from chronic stress because you’re taking on too much work, you can hire someone or outsource those tasks.
If you can’t eliminate the problem, find ways to make what you’re going through easier to manage. Let’s say your teenager is wreaking havoc in school, and it’s stressing you out. You can look for a family therapist that’s attended one of many accredited clinical psychology programs. They can help you understand what your teen is going through so you can parent them more effectively.
Mental health in the workplace is not just an issue for employees. As the most influential leaders lead by example, it’s essential that they, too, keep their emotional well-being intact. While business and life can get out of hand at times, allowing these moments to impact your health will backfire. The best thing you can do for yourself and your team is to be transparent, prioritize your well-being, identify sources, and develop a plan of action to improve.
