TLC Middle East - Leadership and Mental Health

There was a time – and it’s in the recent past, and in some cases still exists - when mental health was a subject which was ignored.

Stressed? We all have that, just get on with your job. 
Stressed? Take a day off. 

Because of these and other similar responses, and even a feeling of shame in the workplace, staff avoided talking about what broadly referred to as mental health.

There was also a time when we were told not to bring issues from home into the workplace.

Mental well-being of staff is critical.

Leadership plays an important role in easing and even preventing mental health issues.

As we keep saying, leadership is a relationship. The best leaders, because of the relationship they have with their team, can check in individually where he suspects that could be a problem.

This is not done in an intrusive way, but rather in a manner which displays concern and care for the individual.

”How are you doing? I know you’ve been under pressure lately. Do you want to talk about it?”

Leaders can also make clear the importance of mental health, by talking about it in team meetings. And doing this for the team, the leader indicates he or she is encouraging openness, and the importance of talking about mental health. 

Leaders should also encourage discussion about mental health, either one or one and also in team meetings.

Of course, mental health issues can have a significant impact on productivity and performance.

Leaders take mental health issues personally. The impact on productivity and performance is important. Leaders know that when they prioritize mental health, productivity and performance flow more easily. 

Mental health is also analogous to the oxygen mask when we’re a passenger on an aircraft.

Put the oxygen mask on you first. You can’t help others unless you first help yourself.

Self-care for leaders cannot be avoided.

Leaders can’t help others manage mental health if they’re not managing their own.

Simple strategies like taking time out during the day, taking a walk around the office or better still to a quiet, calm place to regroup and re-energize can bring benefits.

One important strategy, for leaders at all levels, is to have someone they can talk to when the need arises.

Leaders often believe that they are above all of that, that they can “cope “, that they can’t let others know that they are having self doubts, feeling stressed and overwhelmed.

The reality is that leaders DO have these feelings, that they can be susceptible to mental health issues?

Do we remember just a few years ago when, at the top of the game, the women’s tennis champion Naomi Osaka pulled out top level competition, announcing that mental health was an issue for her.

Unbelievably, there was criticism in the press for her taking this action.

Mental health – yours, your team members, your family members – and even mine – cannot be dismissed.

The first step is to talk about it, then develop a habit of regularly checking in with people around you. 

Are you ok ?