The last 18 months have inevitably been challenging for business leaders. Throughout the pandemic leaders have had to navigate constant uncertainty whilst managing the survival of their organisation and the wellbeing of their staff. From tough decisions over furlough and redundancies, to adapting the way the organisation and its people work, it’s no surprise leaders feel under more pressure than ever before. The rates of mental health disorders among senior leaders, such as depression and anxiety have risen, with 78% of business leaders experiencing poor mental health during the pandemic.
Covid-19 restrictions may have eased, but cases of the virus in society are still prevalent and many people remain stressed by what remains a constantly changing, ‘risky’ environment. Over half of British people are experiencing ‘high levels’ of anxiety and CEOs and leaders aren’t exempt to these pressures. It is normal to feel overwhelmed and stressed at this time, we are all human. Business leaders will also be feeling the added responsibilities of ensuring support measures are in place for their employees, whilst wanting to leading by example.
My advice to fellow leaders is to be honest with yourself, be realistic, and to seek support if you need it. The steps you need to take to look after yourself as a leader will be the same as for anyone else – but what can be more challenging is recognising the symptoms of poor mental health in yourself and knowing when to seek help. When we’re honest about our mental health it enables all employees to do the same and empowers them to feel they can reach out and seek the support they need. Having a supportive workplace culture around wellbeing starts from the top. There are a few simple things you can do to help with this.
Track how you’re feeling
Tracking how you’re feeling is a good start. It can allow you to implement positive coping strategies before anything deteriorates. You could try the My Whole Self MOT tool, which is designed to make sure you’re looking after your wellbeing. The questions include how’s my mental health today? How full is my stress container? Am I using helpful coping strategies to deal with my stress? It is worth writing a few things down to improve your wellbeing and reflect on your progress on these in the coming weeks.
Take regular breaks
A continual stream of video calls and meetings, as important as they are for business, is not sustainable. Now, as we navigate the ‘new world of work’ where some of us are in the office and others remain at home, it has become even more important to take time to disconnect, pause, and decompress between calls and catch ups. You can allow time for this by making meetings 25 or 50 minutes so you get short breaks throughout the day. I am also a huge fan of walking meetings, done over the phone rather than via video call. It gives me the opportunity to get away from my desk and the screen and get some fresh air and exercise.
Keep connected
Everyone needs human connections – if you are managing a whole business or a team of people – socialising and building bonds with people is even more important. Making the time to socialise with people from across the organisation can help you reconnect with the bigger picture and boost your morale. If there isn’t anything arranged why not suggest someone in your team organises the next social for everyone? This could be anything from a party to a virtual team activity such as a Desert Island Favourites so people who are at home and in the office can get involved.
It’s also important to remember that wellbeing isn’t all about work. We all need to make sure we are making time for the things that bring us joy in life – from socialising with friends, to exercise and downtime. For many of us, we need to restore the balance in our lives that has been disrupted by the pandemic to help life feel ‘normal’ again.
It can be hard to ask for help when you are ‘the boss’ but there shouldn’t be any shame in doing so. If you’re finding things unmanageable, consider the support measures available to you. This might be speaking to a Mental Health First Aider, an Employee Assistance Programme, or a supportive mentor or work colleague.
