LEADERSHIP AND MENTAL HEALTH
The complexity and uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 has brought the microscope zeroing on leadership in many organisations. There are assertions that this is the most stressful period in history and has led to a huge surge in workplace mental health issues which inadvertently has a bearing in productivity and efficiency in many organisations. Time and again we often focus at other factors that contribute to workplace mental illness and abandon the role played by leadership.
How does leadership influence mental health in the workplace? Leadership can either nurture or break up the mental health of those in the setup of the organization. A 2017 research did highlight that transformative leadership is pivotal in promoting positive mental health whilst what they termed destructive leadership was associated with negative mental health in the workplace.
Leaders need to nurture and develop their soft skills set. Several studies have found out that the lack of soft skills by leaders often result in workplace mental health challenges. Interpersonal skills, communication and emotional intelligence are deemed to be the soft skills that can uplift interconnectedness hence the prospects of a mentally healthy workplace. With soft skills, there is ability to be aware of subordinates’ tensions and issues, recognize behavior changes and detachment from the team of employees and address the issues.
Whilst leaders often want outcomes achieved at the end of the day, there are times that they really need to listen to employees and empathise with them to get to know things from their perspective in case of underachievement. Empathetically listening to employees makes them feel valued and has been evidenced to lower work stress. Empathy aside, there are other leadership traits like authenticity and humility which when applied can transcend the workplace into mental health friendly one.
A leader who promotes mental health in the workplace in hindsight promotes his/ her own mental health as mentally healthy employees means they are productive and efficient hence less stress! Reflections and self-awareness are what the leadership needs; an honest reflection by the leader will highlight strengths, weaknesses and gaps that can enhanced or addressed through a robust personal development plan and therapy if need be. Leaders need good mental health themselves to function optimally.