Maintaining good mental health requires a supportive community. Our wellbeing is dependent on nurturing environments, whether in the home or at school, where people can build relationships and take risks. The workplace is no exception.
Businesses can foster a sense community and belonging in the workplace through a variety of methods, from improving skills to demonstrating openness and vulnerability. Businesses that commit to employee wellness benefit from increased productivity, lower costs and reduced absenteeism.
This Mental Health Awareness Week let’s look at the importance of community for mental health and what businesses can to do create a supportive environment that helps their staff thrive.
Growing a culture that values growth and curiosity
Community growth is the core of any community. Learning is important for the wellbeing of your staff. Everyone learns in different ways, so consider how you can tailor learning for your staff.
Unique learning opportunities encourage personal growth and promote wellbeing. According to research, more than a quarter of employees reported an immediate improvement in their mental wellbeing as a result short-term skill development.
But creating a culture of learning isn’t about formal training. It is about creating a safe environment where employees can take risks and fail without fear. Mistakes and successes are celebrated. Positive reinforcement will empower your staff and improve their mental health.
Finding purpose for staff
We want to know that what we do is important. Purpose binds people together – it’s a great way to build community among employees.
We all seek some sort of meaning in our jobs. It makes us more motivated, engaged and resilient. Find ways to align your brand’s purpose with the ambitions of your employees. By breaking your vision into smaller, more concrete elements, you can empower individuals.
Experience inspiring speakers and their stories
Inspirational speakers can bring people together. Inspirational speakers create moments of connection that inspire reflection and conversation. Speakers help people to feel heard and seen by opening up a dialogue and sharing powerful tales. This is essential for mental health.
Speakers Corner is a place where we listen to new voices each week and encourage our staff to share their experiences. This is a win-win for everyone: we gain valuable input from professionals as a company. Speakers can inspire and provide ideas to staff, which enhances their professional and personal growth. Finally, they feel heard and can develop a stronger connection to our brand.
Accepting uncomfortable conversations
It’s important to be able to talk about uncomfortable topics.
Leaders must create safe environments for their team members to engage in these discussions, whether it is about health, pay or conflict at work. The payoff can be huge. It’s important to have difficult conversations in a vulnerable and open way. This will help you move the conversation forward.
To perform at our highest level, we all need to be secure. By having difficult conversations to resolve issues, you can create an atmosphere where your staff feels supported. By demonstrating this to your team, you can encourage them to have difficult conversations and be open.
Growing your business and maintaining your community
It becomes more difficult to maintain the close-knit feeling of community that is so natural for small businesses. To ensure that employees feel connected, leadership teams in particular must adapt. Here are some things you can do.
- Be visible and make time. Show that you are involved but do not take the lead. Let others take responsibility and ownership.
- Be open. Set an example by sharing your journey to self-improvement.
- Own up to your mistakes. Assume responsibility for your mistakes and set the same expectations for others.
- Learn from your mistakes. Discuss what went wrong. It is more important to learn from your mistakes (and it’s cheaper!) than attending a training class.
Mental Health Awareness Week: Champion your community
A team that is happy and productive will benefit from a good mental health. Everyone wants security and support, so businesses need to offer this.
Employees who feel valued and connected will be more engaged. People who feel they belong are more loyal and engaged at work. This sense of belonging not only improves retention, but also your reputation as an employer who puts people first.
Consider how to embed your workplace into the community during Mental Health Awareness Week to create a team of motivated and collaborative employees who are proud to be a part of something meaningful.
The original version of this article HR News was Create workplace community that enhances staff wellbeing.
