As most working professionals spend a third of their time at work, it’s been a massive adjustment for the millions of people who have had to start working from home. With many other stressors and worries piled on top of this, it’s no surprise then that this has had a major impact on the health, happiness, and the wellbeing of those employees.
For a thriving business, you need thriving employees, but not many people are thriving during this time. Therefore, to keep businesses afloat during the current global crisis, it is the responsibility of the employers to support their employees and this includes their mental wellbeing. Here’s how to do just that.
The 3 Ps
1. Prioritise – the health of your team
You need to create the right conditions to help your employees feel empowered and supported during this stressful time. You can do this by:
- Taking advice from the World Health Organization and region-specific public health authorities such as the CDC.
- Measuring and tracking the stress of your team via surveys and then offering help to those who need it most.
- Providing consistent and clear objectives to give your employees a sense of control and purpose.
2. Promote – positive habits
Anxiety and stress can lead to the formation of bad (and unhealthy) habits. To help your employees deal with this stress, encourage the formation of positive habits such as:
- Making a weekly and daily plan of action.
- Sticking to their daily routine as much as possible.
- Self-care activities such as meditation, mindfulness, and breathing exercises.
- Taking regular breaks to properly ‘switch off.’
- Limiting their use/exposure to social media and the news.
3. Practice – compassion and empathy
Some of your employees may have lost loved ones or they may be suffering from anxiety or depression during this time. To support them as best you can, here is how to be a more compassionate and empathetic leader:
- Check-in with your employees regularly and keep an eye on their energy levels.
- Listen to how they are feeling and encourage sharing when your team communicates.
- Pause and give yourself time to respond to certain situations rather than reacting to them.
