In the wake of the past year, millions of individuals globally are battling increased depression, anxiety, PTSD, and trauma. Most likely, members of your very own team are struggling with these same stressors.

 

The Harvard Business Review (HBR) published an article “8 Ways Managers Can Support Employees’ Mental Health”. Their recent research revealed that 42% of employees have experienced a decline in mental health since the beginning of the pandemic*. With potentially half of your team struggling with increased mental stress, you must prioritize this vital aspect of your team. 

 

Of the eight suggestions that HBR made, a few really resonated with me. I wanted to be sure to pass these along because I find them to be excellent ways that you, as an aesthetic business leader, can support your team. 

 

Create A Culture of Connection. Check-in regularly with your team. Make this an intentional habit, asking questions beyond the typical “how are you?”. Truly dive deep and figure out what the needs of the individual team member are. Check-ins are critical, especially for those team members working remotely. 

 

Communicate A LOT. Communicate with your team members much more than you believe needed. Clarify workloads, confirm schedule changes, and reiterate the rules and standards of your business. Having defined expectations will help your team members dealing with stress and uncertainty. 

 

Adjust Policies & Procedures. Take a look at the policies you have surrounding time off, paid & unpaid leave, and team communications. Be as flexible and understanding as possible. Perhaps you might even reframe your evaluations to share empathetic feedback and training on employee performance, rather than evaluating strict goals previously set.

 

As a leader, you have to find the delicate balance between managing your team and supporting their individual needs. Being a good leader doesn’t mean being really soft. You can be empathetic and hold people accountable. If you need help knowing how to support your team, contact me!

 

*Source Link: https://hbr.org/2020/08/8-ways-managers-can-support-employees-mental-health