Feature
The impact of investing in employee wellbeing has broad reach and can affect families, communities and wellbeing in wider society
and physical health. It is much broader and holistic than that and these seven components of wellbeing (see diagram, left) are well worth considering.
Poor leadership can often be attributed
to those who are stressed out and not looking after their own wellbeing. Currently in my work I am seeing some really concerning examples of leaders who are precariously close to burnout! When leaders aren’t looking after themselves and managing their stress levels, they can have a tendency to not listen, they may lack empathy and become intolerant and micromanage. The list of negative traits of course goes on! Leaders on the other hand who role model wellbeing create a more positive and supportive organisational culture. This can lead to increased employee morale and engagement, better productivity and job satisfaction.
When leaders and managers prioritise their own wellbeing, it sends a message to employees that wellbeing is important. Seeing leaders and managers take care of themselves can inspire employees to do the same.
organisations, they leave managers” is often attributed to Marcus Buckingham, an author and researcher on workplace management. And it’s so true! I have been there myself! I talk to many people who have had a similar experience. A report in 2023 by the CIPD and Simply Health identifi ed that management style was one of the biggest causes of stress related sickness absenteeism.
When employees feel supported and
encouraged to take care of themselves, they are less likely to experience stress and burnout.
Here are 3 simple ways that leaders can
role-model wellbeing: 1. Prioritise your own wellbeing Leaders need to take care of their overall wellbeing and understand that wellbeing is much more than just mental
2. Set healthy boundaries Leaders need to set and communicate clear boundaries between their work and personal lives which means not working long hours or checking their work email after hours. It also means giving their team members the permission to do the same.
3. Encourage life balance I can’t begin to emphasise the role ‘balance’ plays in supporting wellbeing. Understanding that there are many components to wellbeing is a great place to begin and understanding the needs of each team member is key.
Supporting a culture where employees
feel comfortable to prioritise self-care, so they can pace themselves well and recharge when needed, is essential.
In summary By role modelling wellbeing, leaders can create a positive and supportive work environment where employees feel valued and supported.
A leading expert on resilience and behavioural agility, Liggy Webb is founding director and CEO of The Learning Architect, an international consortium of life skills specialists. Liggy presents ‘Empowering Minds’ in Theatre 2 at 12:15 on Tuesday 5 February.
Learning Magazine | 15
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