Wellbeing & Mental Health
The direct impact on your people’s mental health and performance with a strategic wellbeing strategy
Wellbeing strategies beyond benefits and gimmicks, creating impact through behaviour and culture – from Petra Velzeboer A wellbeing strategy may be filled with vision and action plans but unless it’s brought to life through behaviours, habits and culture, it’s just a dusty document sitting in the cloud. Firstly, if you want your wellbeing strategy to directly impact your people’s mental health and performance, you’ve got to align it with your business objectives. So often, these are vastly separate conversations but…
Mental fitness, or mindset, is key to building resilience
How to recognise, challenge and release ‘mind traps’ to pave the way for greater resilience. Anita Guru shares the helpful habits and behaviours you need to succeed Our mind is like Teflon for positive thoughts – we don’t tend to gravitate towards or recall positive thoughts. For negative thoughts, however, our brain is like Velcro. Negative thoughts tend to stick to our brain and can be on a loop. When we are in a negative thought pattern, it can have…
Cultivating trust: The foundation of strong relationships
Explore the profound impact of trust in workplace dynamics with practical insights, takeaways and tips. Karen Carey explains why trust isn’t just a buzzword; it’s the lifeblood of robust relationships Trust, the elusive elixir of relationships, is a dynamic force shaped by personal experiences. In the professional space, the impact of trust is significantly influencing the very core of workplace dynamics. Trust brings self-reflection. Leaders often overlook the power of looking inward Reflecting on my own journey, a pivotal moment unfolded…
Workplace wellbeing: Should you consider a Chief Happiness Officer?
Exploring companies that have senior personnel who are responsible for the welfare of their employees with Sarah Cook and Steve Macaulay In today’s unstable business climate, the success of organisations hinges not only on factors such as strategic agility and innovative products but in particular on the essential underpinnings of satisfaction and strength of their workforce. The danger is the wellbeing and personal satisfaction of the average employee have gone down and with it, potentially energy and new ideas. This…
The hidden dangers of start-up culture: Avoiding burnout
Felizitas Lichtenberg looks at how to avoid burnout when working at a start-up As workers begin to return to the office, and businesses start their slow return to pre-pandemic norms, employee burnout has re-emerged as a significant issue in the UK. A nationwide survey from Indeed Flex found that the number of UK workers experiencing stress or burnout in the workplace doubled in 2023, highlighting the growing impact of the problem. Establishing boundaries can involve communicating clearly when you need…
Why mental health issues are on the rise and how to support your employees in a hybrid work environment
Ravinder Tulsiani shares how to support people at work in challenging times In recent years, mental health issues have surged to the forefront of global health concerns, with an increasing number of individuals grappling with challenges such as anxiety, depression, and stress. This uptick is not confined to personal spheres but extends into professional environments, exacerbated by the rapid shift to hybrid work models spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the root causes of this rise and implementing effective employee…
Leading by example: Encouraging mental health conversations in the workplace
Anita Guru moves through the cost of mental health challenges and focuses on how workplaces can be more open For Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 this year’s theme is “movement”. The Mental Health UK Burnout Report 2024 found that 56% of adults reported that regular exercise helped them to manage stress. Regular exercise not only helps with symptoms of stress, but also things like improving your sleep, mood and confidence. Exercise doesn’t mean intensive workouts, it could be a walk,…
From awareness to action: equipping managers to support mental health at work
Michelle Robinson Hayes looks at the unseen burden of managers and the mental health crisis, and asks: are you helping your managers to help others? Employees across all age groups and demographics are experiencing increased stress levels, anxiety and burnout. In fact, stress, depression and anxiety accounted for 49% of all work-related ill health and 54% of working days lost due to such health issues in 2022 to 2023 – a rate which is higher than pre-pandemic levels, according to…
The dangers of ‘wellbeing washing’ and how to avoid it
Anna Eliatamby explores workplace wellbeing, exposing pitfalls and offering effective strategies Years ago, business recognised the importance of supporting and enhancing the wellbeing and mental health of employees and leaders. Wellbeing and employee assistance programmes came into existence. All this came to a crescendo during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is worth assessing the extent to which current efforts enhance wellbeing, and then make necessary changes A central pivot for these programmes was, and remains, learning and development (L&D). These interventions…
How can first-time CEOs manage stress effectively?
New to the top job? Don’t panic! David Roche shares practical tips to help first-time CEOs succeed McKinsey asserts that $1trillion is lost every year in market value of S&P’s top 1500 companies because of poorly planned transitions of CEOs and C-suite appointments. Not surprising, then, that two out of five CEOs fail in their first 18 months, according to the Harvard Business Review. Only when a leader is prepared to ask questions and lean on the skills of…
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