Six signs of a mentally healthy workplace
This year’s World Mental Health Day theme is: “Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority”. According to the World Health Organization, to make this a global priority, “We must deepen the value and commitment we give to mental health as individuals, communities and governments and match that value with more commitment, engagement and investment by all stakeholders, across all sectors.”
According to recent Deloitte research,1 Australian employees are ahead of the curve. As many as 93% of working people surveyed said their physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing was just as important as how much they were paid.
We won’t talk about individuals or governments today. Instead let’s talk about the communities of these Australian employees – their workplaces.
So, what does a mentally healthy workplace look like? As someone who used to play high level basketball – albeit many years ago – I often reflect on what helped make some of the teams I played on really click. The teams that really came together emphasised each aspect of the process, working on our stretching, strength, endurance, timing, and teamwork. While we were doing all of that, we also took good care of our bodies’ needs for rest, replenishment, safety, and nutrition.
As it turns out, each of these areas are important for a healthy workplace as well. Not for some workplaces – all stakeholders, across all sectors. And not occasionally – every day.
The teams that really click emphasise stretching, strength, endurance, timing, and teamwork.
Six attributes of a mentally healthy workplace
Workplaces must allow employees to mentally stretch themselves. This means that employees can try new things and open up to new possibilities, even when this might include some missteps. Flexible work is here to stay and is providing new ways to imagine how we can work and live more fully, while reframing the office as a hub for connection and collaboration.
True mental strength is driven by values and goals. As parents, why do we give everything we have for our kids? Because they deeply matter to us. Mental strength is not about money or status; it’s about purpose. Workplaces must be clear about their values and act accordingly. They must also recognise what matters most to their team, and honour those values if they want motivated and committed team members.
Mental endurance is about the ability to keep going. With all the changes we’ve experienced in the first few years of the 2020s, helping team members to commit to new ways of doing things and persisting with them is a vital investment that workplaces must make. They must also have faith in their employees and their capacity to work well. Slipping and falling is part of the process, just like with any sport. What matters, however, is that workplaces help their people back up to try again and keep going.
Mental timing is about awareness of what is happening in the present moment. It’s about focus. In pre-season, my old team would work endlessly on getting our plays timed just right and everyone locked in. Likewise, workplaces can encourage employees to practise awareness in their own lives. Whether that’s through providing mindfulness training, or some other form of awareness building activities, mental timing – being attuned to the present moment – is an important skill for every team member.
Teamwork is about working well with others. One thing I loved about playing a team sport was that I knew it wasn’t just about me. There were times I sat on the bench and encouraged others on the court. There were other times I passed up a good shot to give a teammate an even better one. From a workplace perspective, this means emphasising the health and balance of the team by holding space for diverse thinking, feeling, and beliefs. It means being attentive to everyone’s values and goals and being connected to others.
And yes, workplaces must ensure their employees are able to take care of their body and encourage them when they do so. We are all physical beings, and when we’re not eating well, sleeping well, or exercising well, we’re going to have a hard time – both on the court, and in the workplace.
Workplaces across all sectors must continue to demonstrate increased commitment, engagement and investment toward their employees’ mental health and wellbeing.
As an employer, your employees know this. Make sure to show them you do too.
En Masse offers a range of leader-targeted programs for building and promoting mentally healthy workplaces. Contact us today for a program tailored to your people.
