Acknowledging the importance of mental health is the first step towards creating a supportive work environment. To elaborate further, Chester Elton, bestselling author, executive coach, keynote speaker, and host of the Anxiety at Work podcast, joins us on today’s episode of The Small Business Show.
Key Takeaways
1. Elton emphasizes the correlation between mental health and workplace culture, highlighting the increasing prevalence of anxiety disorders among employees. He discusses how failing to address mental health issues can lead to a fractured culture and hinder productivity.
2. The importance of normalizing and destigmatizing conversations around mental health suggests that leaders can create a safe space for discussions by normalizing the conversation, destigmatizing mental health issues, and practicing empathy.
3. Elton also discusses the role of leaders in fostering emotional safety by actively listening to employees without immediately providing solutions. Leaders are encouraged to create environments where employees feel comfortable expressing their concerns without fear of judgment or repercussions.
4. Moreover, Elton advocates integrating gratitude practices into workplace culture to promote emotional well-being. Gratitude rituals, like starting or ending the day with expressions of gratitude, are presented as effective tools for reducing anxiety and improving overall well-being.
5. Acknowledging generational differences in attitudes toward mental health is imperative. This emphasizes the need for leaders, especially older generations, to adapt their behavior and communication styles to effectively address mental health concerns in the workplace.
"You've got to normalize the conversation, so when leaders share their stories, it makes it okay for people to share theirs." - Chester Elton
