Unveiling the influence: exploring the impact of leaders on employees and 6 tips to get started with promoting mental health in the workplace

As part of my business, Reasonful, I run numerous events and workshops and design wellbeing strategies for businesses. Over the past few months, I've been hearing a lot of questions around leadership. 

Questions like, "How can we better support our people?", "How can we prioritise mental health while navigating extremely busy business periods?" and "What does a leader who gets this right look like?" 

These questions have inspired me to write this month’s blog all about how leaders can promote mental health at work. And before we go further, I want to clarify that when I refer to "leaders," I am not just thinking of those in C-suite roles. Leadership occurs throughout any organisation at every level of management. I consider anyone with managerial responsibilities a leader, whether in day-to-day operations, running a project, a colleague network, or any other similar role.

In this blog, I’ll explore the role that leaders play when it comes to mental health and, most importantly, how leaders can get started with supporting their teams with wellbeing.

How much of an impact do leaders have on employees?

Leaders play a significant role in shaping the experiences and outcomes of their employees. Research consistently shows that leadership behaviour has profound effects, both positive and negative, that ripple through entire organisations. 

For instance…

• A staggering 76% of professionals believe there will be more demand for human-centric skills in leaders, such as demonstrating empathy and high social and emotional intelligence (Harvard Business, 2023)

• Managers account for at least 70% of discrepancies in employee engagement scores across all business levels (Gallup, 2024).

• 40% of C-suite executives said they might quit within the year due to stress (UKG People Operations, 2023).

• And, companies earn an average of 147% higher earnings per share when they increase their number of talented managers and double their rate of engaged employees (Gallup, 2024).

This ripple effect doesn’t stop at employee performance and business outcomes. Leaders can also have a significant impact on employees’ mental health.

Research has even found that managers often have a more profound influence than doctors or therapists, and are on par with the influence of a spouse or partner (UKG People Operations, 2023). Forbes highlighted the gravity of this influence by stating, “If you’re a leader, you’re right to find this data sobering” (Forbes, 2023). 

Workplace stress has been found to have wide-reaching consequences, seeping into personal lives, with 71% of employees reporting negative effects on home life, 64% on overall wellbeing, and 62% on relationships (UKG People Operations, 2023).

It’s also been found that two-thirds of employees and 70% of managers would take a pay cut for a job that better supports their mental wellness (UKG People Operations, 2023).

This is just a snapshot of some of the research out there. The behaviour and quality of leadership within an organisation profoundly affect employees' satisfaction, stress levels, engagement, and mental health. Effective leadership is not just about achieving business objectives but also about nurturing and sustaining a positive and supportive work environment where employees feel valued, empowered, and cared for.

Statistics and findings like those listed above can feel daunting, and I think it’s important to recognise just how difficult being a leader can be. For me, this isn’t about shaming or blaming anyone. Instead, it's about highlighting the significant influence you can have in this area as a leader and exploring the different ways you can take positive action.  

So, how can you get started?

6 Tips for leaders who want to promote mental health in the workplace 

1. Promote Work-Life Balance: Encourage employees to prioritise self-care by setting boundaries between work and personal life. Provide flexible work arrangements when possible. As a leader, it’s important to not only promote this but also to role model this behaviour - time for you to clock off too!

2. Open Communication Channels: Create a culture where employees feel safe to discuss their mental health concerns without fear of stigma or reprisal. Regular check-ins and one-on-one meetings can facilitate this.

3. Lead by Example: Demonstrate healthy work habits and coping mechanisms as a leader. Show vulnerability by sharing your own experiences with stress and how you manage it effectively. Leaders who show vulnerability and acknowledge their own challenges are 5.3 times more likely to build trust with their employees and 7.5 times more likely to maintain it (DDI, 2023).

4. Recognise and Appreciate: Regularly acknowledge and appreciate employees' contributions and efforts. Genuine recognition fosters a sense of belonging and boosts morale.

5. Monitor Workload and Expectations: Ensure workloads are manageable and realistic. Avoid micromanagement and unrealistic deadlines that contribute to stress and burnout. 

6. Seek Feedback and Adapt: Regularly solicit feedback from employees about their experiences and needs regarding mental health support. Use this feedback to continuously improve and adapt your leadership approach.

While these tips provide a solid foundation for promoting mental health in the workplace, it's important to recognise that addressing mental health is a multifaceted and ongoing endeavour.

As a leader, if you find yourself navigating challenges related to mental health in your organisation, it's crucial to seek further support and expertise. While implementing strategies like promoting work-life balance and providing resources is a great start, deeper understanding and specialised guidance may be necessary to create a truly supportive environment. 

Moreover, addressing mental health in the workplace isn't just about reacting to issues as they arise; it's about proactively fostering a culture of wellbeing and resilience. Investing in ongoing education and training for both leaders and employees can help create a more mentally healthy workplace overall. 

If you feel overwhelmed or unsure about how to proceed, don't hesitate to reach out for further support. I'm here to provide guidance and resources to support your journey toward promoting mental health and wellbeing in your organisation.

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I’m Miriam and I run Reasonful - we offer support to small and medium-sized businesses that are typically facing challenges of rapid growth, talent retention, fast-paced work and constant pressure to deliver results, all whilst wanting to support long-term employee mental health and wellbeing.

We offer mental health workshops, mindfulness classes, wellbeing strategy support and bespoke programmes.

Sign up for our FREE Guide to Building and Sustaining a Culture of Wellbeing to get started today. Click here to find out more.

Or, book a no-obligation 20-minute call to learn more about unleashing your team's potential through strategic mental health initiatives here.