What climate do you REALLY create?
In a recent report published by the CIPD on health and wellbeing at work they found that stress-related absence has increased over the last year in nearly two-fifths of organisations. Just 8% report it has decreased. Heavy workloads remain the most common cause of workplace stress, but this year an increased proportion blame management style.
Leaders are under constant pressure to deliver results and improve productivity and performance. Some of the best leaders that I have observed have the self awareness to understand that their own stress can be a massive contributing factor to the climate and culture they create. High performing leaders are realising that they need to put their own happiness, confidence and wellbeing at the heart of their leadership, and are also taking greater responsibility for workplace wellbeing.
“HR functions are constantly looking at creative solutions to fix issues around wellbeing, absenteeism and attrition in order to have a more emotionally engaged workforce”
These constant initiatives are often seen and felt as putting a sticky plaster on the core issue - that many senior leaders believe that to achieve business results and growth they need to push themselves and others harder.
I am seeing the impact that this is having on many leaders, who are starting to feel the effects both within themselves and with the relationships they have with others. They are perhaps ignoring many of the physical signs of stress and ignoring their own feelings and the feelings of others.
“I have the privilege of working with individuals and teams to help them develop skills around resilience and sustainable performance
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I have the privilege of working with individuals and teams to help them develop skills around resilience and sustainable performance. What I am discovering is that many leaders today feel they are spending over 50% of their time in surviving, rather than thriving. Their fear of getting found out or not achieving drives many of these leaders to do more - but in unproductive ways. It becomes a perpetual cycle which does not improve performance over the long term.
It is not uncommon when I start working with individuals to experience a depth of emotional release when I provide the space for them to reflect on what is really going on for them!
The good news...
The good news is that leaders are starting to realise the importance of emotional, physical and mental wellbeing on performance. The best leaders are aligning their business strategy with people strategies that focus on flexibility, new ways of working, health and a shared sense of purpose.
“We can change. We can bounce back and move towards a more healthy and sustainable approach to leadership.”
Smart CEOs are focusing on ensuring that people are happy, energised and performing at an optimum level within the realms of reality. They have a balanced perspective on what can be achieved and they are growing their businesses from this place.
We can change. We can bounce back and move towards a more healthy and sustainable approach to leadership. Leaders and teams are really clear about their sense of purpose achieve high performance, greater productivity and an emotionally resilient culture.
The first step...
“ It starts with small changes, but these small changes really impact individuals and team performance
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The first step towards this is to be really clear about your purpose and make sure that your goals are directed towards this. Learning to say no to attending yet another meeting that isn't aligned to this, will help you and your team to grow in a positive, high performing way.
I received an email after the last resilience workshop I ran from one of the delegates saying thank you. The thank you was that they had slept well that night and felt much lighter and as a team there was much more hope and positivity. It starts with small changes, but these small changes really impact individuals and team performance. I am running a Woman in Leadership workshop on sustainable resilience. If you are interested to learn more please visit my website and checkout the events page.
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If you are interested in running either a Resilient Me or Resilient Team workshop, visit the Emotionally-i-Fit website or contact Amanda Wildman by email or on 07815 743045 .
Amanda Wildman - Emotionally-i-Fit
Amanda Wildman - Director of Emotionally-i-Fit - is an expert in emotional intelligence and leadership development.
Emotionally-i-Fit runs assessments, coaching programmes, workshops and leadership retreats that help leaders and organisations to measure and develop the 16 metrics of emotional intelligence.