As leaders and managers, we all like to think we are good at taking care of our employees’ wellbeing … until one day, a sticky situation arises. It then becomes evident that the ‘Wellness Wednesday’ sessions, the bowl of fruit in reception and the offer of private healthcare are barely sticking plasters that don’t address the core root of real problems.
What is really needed is an integrated strategy that considers employee experience, engagement and an open culture to help address the real root cause of stress and burnout.
Creating a culture built on trust
Nothing speaks more loudly about an organisation’s culture than the leader’s behaviour. Showing support and understanding for your team members, even when they make mistakes, goes a long way in building trust as a leader. Owning up to your own mistakes is important too and can encourage a deeper trust within your team.
Employees need to feel they belong. They need to know that their contribution matters and be free to share and discuss the challenges they are facing without judgement.
The resources to fulfil their role
Excessive workload and unrealistic deadlines are the key drivers of stress in the workplace and can result in absenteeism. These can be managed better with clear communication and expectations, and with the right resources to help employees be more efficient and productive.
If your business is adopting a hybrid working approach, consider whether your employees have the technology and tools they need at home to fulfil tasks efficiently.
Upskilling and training
Upskilling should be part of every organisation’s wellbeing strategy. By identifying and implementing the right training, you can increase productivity, reduce stress, and prevent burnout. Training can be even more rewarding when employees get the opportunity to test and implement their newly learned skills, whether it be through sharing their knowledge with peers, being assigned new responsibilities or involvement in new projects.
Build positive relationships
Healthy relationships are the cornerstone of a person’s wellbeing. Employees need constructive relationships with their line managers and opportunities to collaborate and socialise with other team members. Working from home may have resulted in feelings of isolation amongst your team, so regular get togethers (whether virtual or in person) will help keep everyone aligned and provide opportunities to share, offload or celebrate.
There is so much more for employers to consider as far as managing wellbeing is concerned. With advances in technology, the future of hybrid working and mental health being talked about much more freely, it means that employers need a holistic approach to wellbeing if it wants to improve employee morale and overall job happiness.
Contact us today to find out what wellbeing means to us and how we’ve implemented the right programmes to help our clients.
