Have you ever rolled your eyes at someone who talks about their work wife – how silly and unprofessional right? Well perhaps not, 2020 research from the Wellbeing Lab shows that when employees have close personal relationships at work their wellbeing improves. There is evidence for creating and supporting stronger more meaningful relationships at work in order to improve employee engagement.
When there is a closer relationship, it is easier to share more private thoughts and to recognise if something is not right. It may be a caring ear or a shoulder to cry on when something goes wrong from a trusted confidant. Having those strong relationships at work reassures people that they are not in this alone and they feel supported.
Check-in with those around you, lead with “Are you OK?” but don’t just leave it there. If you sense that there is something wrong, there probably is. If they really don’t want to tell you, they won’t, but you can leave them with a feeling that they can come back to you at some point and revisit it. In addition, just send on the details of services that can help – I have a list on my website that you can download for free, it is helpful, send it on.
Find out who your Mental First Aid Officers are and get them to follow up or talk to HR or HSE. Don’t ever feel silly for making your concerns known, the person you are worried about may not have the mental capacity to make that decision themselves. Perhaps they are fine but we want to create a caring culture and in that vein be discerning with who you tell and ensure that they are in a position or someone who respects confidentiality.
Always remember there are a lot of people who are high-functioning who are also suffering from a mental illness. They are the ones who are often most at risk because they think that nothing serious will happen, but they may be living one issue away from falling apart.
As a leader, we all should seek out relationships at work which can support us and ensure that others in your team do the same. It is human nature to get along better with some people more than others, although it may prove helpful to try and “get along” with everyone to show you are committed to the culture (and for less angst in your day). The teams we like to emulate rely on one another in life and death situations (a mountaineering team, armed services, or yachting crew) they know they have each other’s back when the chips are down. High-performing athletic teams have the weight of the world on their shoulders and come together at the precise moment to make the score and win the game. Their relationships are strong. They are also an example that you do not have to like someone to have a strong relationship with them. What are the chances of liking all 20 people in the football team, but they still develop trust and empathy to know they are supported.
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