Being a leader and managing people is not easy. It can be a delicate balancing act. In my role as an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) counsellor, I often observe managers in action. All managers have their own style of management and some are more effective than others. The best and most effective managers are authentic and lead with humanity. They engage, connect and bring out the best in others. They have transpersonal power. And they are comfortable having a conversation about mental health and wellbeing in their workplace.
A sign of great mental fitness!
Here are my top ten suggestions to help you build and maintain YOUR mental fitness:
- Lead by example. Be a positive role model for others and introduce mental fitness into your life. To cultivate mental fitness in your teams, you have to start with yourself. As a manager, you aren’t immune to stress and burnout. And people are watching you - and noticing everything you do. Although your words matter, what you DO matters far more. Showing is more powerful than telling! So, make your own wellbeing a top priority.
- Develop self-awareness. The better you understand yourself, the more effective you are. Do you know how other people view you? If you’re not sure, you need to find out. Can you adapt your management style to get the best out of both introverts and extroverts? Good managers know their strengths – and the areas they need to work on.
- Cultivate emotional intelligence. Do you have the ability to recognise, understand and manage your own and others’ emotions? In today’s workplace, emotional intelligence is vital for success. People are drawn to leaders with high emotional intelligence. They are friendly, more approachable and demonstrate greater leadership and decision-making skills.
- Listen. Can you listen? I mean, really listen. Hearing and listening are not the same thing. Real listening is a skill and takes time and practise. Effective managers are great listeners. They listen more than they speak. You have to take the time to listen to the people you oversee. Incorporate their feedback into the business strategy - pay attention and you, and the business, will reap the results. Do you think you need to do less talking and more listening?
- Inspire without intimidation. Great managers lead without fear and intimidation. They are a joy to work with and take time to talk to people. Just by being human, managers can inspire great performance. They know that inspiration is much more powerful than intimidation. Have you heard the old saying, “Staff don’t leave companies, they leave managers?”
- Be visible and approachable. Do you only talk to people when you want something done? Don’t hide away in your office. Simple, small gestures can make a big difference. Go and have a chat instead of emailing or calling. Say something like, “Hello, how was your weekend?” Just having meaningful conversations with your staff can make a huge difference. But don’t “micromanage” your team. It will lead to poor morale, lack of motivation and staff turnover. Guide and support them instead.
- Use positive language. Talk about mental health and wellbeing regularly in team or one-on-one meetings and webinars. Choose positive words to promote a culture of support and openness. Language is powerful and positive words are uplifting. Take an active role in promoting resilience in your team. And a smile goes a long way too.
- Lead with integrity. Great managers DO what they say, and SAY what they do. They treat others fairly and with respect. They are ethical, open and transparent. Do you practise what you preach?
- Educate yourself. Participate in mental health first-aid training and attend wellbeing events. Listen to a podcast or read an article to broaden your knowledge. Mentally fit managers are forever open to learning - they acknowledge that they are a “work-in-progress”.
- Find a mentor or role-model. Look for someone you admire – someone who demonstrates a high level of mental fitness. Good mentor offers support, guidance and alternative perspectives. Beware of someone who “appears” to have all the answers or can’t put their ego aside.
Although creating a positive and mentally healthy workplace is everyone’s responsibility, managers can play a key role in creating and maintaining a supportive environment. Some managers feel that they don’t have the expertise or resources to promote positive mental health in their workplace. No, managers aren’t expected to be counsellors, but just talking openly about mental health and wellbeing is a great first step towards a more proactive approach to mental health. And speaking openly reduces stigma and encourages people to seek help.
So, are you comfortable having a conversation about mental health and wellbeing in your workplace? If not, now is a great time to take action. And improving your mental fitness will improve your leadership skills too.
Want to hear more about my take on Mental Fitness?