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Filled with worry about the rising cost of living, the possible negative implications of AI in the workplace and increasingly unsustainable workloads, employees are feeling burned out. And with high levels of employee stress, both productivity and overall employee morale are negatively affected, meaning leaders are likely to have a growing problem from both a profit and personnel perspective if they don’t get a handle on it — and fast.
However, the solution may be a simple one: support. According to the business experts of Rolling Stone Culture Council, showing your employees you care about them and their mental health and well-being is an essential first step to improving employee happiness and decreasing the cases of burnout. Here are the 11 ways they recommend you do so.
Listen to What Your Employees Have to Say
First, understanding the needs of your employees and making sure they feel heard is a great starting point. We don’t want to assume we know what somebody is thinking or feeling, so let’s chat about it. Burnout can be real, and I’ve found that sharing company goals with employees allows for a mutual “rally” behind the short-term and medium-term goals. – Chris Eggers, CC Security Solutions
Act as a Role Model
Showing employees you care is about more than providing health benefits and wellness programs; it’s a consistent approach that models leadership from the top down. Do you take care of yourself as a leader? If you see someone in need, do you go out of your way to make sure they get help? Do you empower and ensure everyone on the chain of command does the same? It’s how we show up daily for others that matters most. – Jason Peterson, GoDigital Media Group
Offer Regular Mental Health Days
Business leaders can prioritize employee well-being by implementing regular mental health days, allowing staff to recharge without dipping into their standard leave. This act demonstrates a genuine concern for employee health, encouraging a culture where well-being is valued and promoting a healthier, more productive work environment. – Stephen Nalley, Black Briar Advisors
Be Open and Vulnerable as a Leader
The greatest thing a leader can do is be open about their own struggles, ways of coping and how they’ve grown. By doing so, they make the conversation safe and open. And they can prove that mental health can be made better — for any of us and all of us! – Scott Cowperthwaite, AfterFiveMedia
Find Out How Everyone Is Feeling
Leaders can show they care about employees’ mental well-being in small ways like simply asking everyone at the start of a meeting to quickly share a zero to 10 rating (10 being “feeling fantastic”) on how they are feeling in the moment. It quickly highlights who in the group might need some space or grace. – Sarah DaVanzo, Pierre Fabre
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Implement Virtual Fridays
I’ve been finding that if I allow my staff to work from home at least one day each week, not only are they more refreshed and productive at the office, but they tend to be focused and productive at home as well. I’ve seen a substantial increase in performance since going virtual on Fridays. – JD Barker, J.D. Barker
Reduce the Fear and Stigma Around These Topics
Reduce stigma and fear. Keep a pulse on what’s happening with your team — who may hesitate to communicate issues because they fear seeming incompetent. Check in consistently and be willing to open up about your own experiences with burnout. Implement in-house workshops and an open-door policy that promotes safe spaces for candid one-on-one meetings and supportive dialogue. – Andy Hale, Hale & Monico
Make Room for Curiosity
Focusing solely on work and outcomes can be limiting. Instead, tuning into your team’s nuances enhances understanding. Curiosity about performance dips can reveal underlying issues. This dialogue allows leaders to provide the necessary support, like offering a day off or additional assistance. Curiosity is so important in leadership. – Victoria Chynoweth
Develop Holistic Wellness Programs
Business leaders can enhance employee well-being by developing holistic wellness programs, including mental health counseling and stress management workshops. Encouraging mental health days, providing robust Employee Assistance Programs and training leaders on mental health awareness can create a supportive workplace. – Michele Zanello, Over the Reality
Get to Know Your Employees as Human Beings
As a leader, it’s imperative to be present so that you intimately understand your team’s various plights. Going even more granular, get to know your people not just as employees but as human beings. If someone is struggling financially, give them a short-term loan to alleviate their home-life stress. Others may value an extra week off with their families. Be present, listen and help where you can. – Evan Rubinson, Dean Guitars
Give Them the Flexibility They Need
Talking about mental health and taking time off is still taboo in our culture; many people would rather work through burnout than share how they are feeling and ask for support. We can work to create healthier work environments and societies, but in the meantime, it can be hugely beneficial to allow employees the flexibility to care for themselves without pressure to share details. – Evan Nison, NisonCo
