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Leaders influence the mental health of employees but they don’t realize it
What does this tell us about the importance of the role of leaders? Leaders, of course, are not limited to the corporate world. They are in school and college – in the form of teachers – in sports – in the form of coaches – in politics, in the arts, in all segments of society.
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During my medical course, I was guided by two leadership figures (Professors Adib Gatini and Paolo Fraleti), each with a very different style from the other – one hardworking and proactive, the other more challenging – who helped pave the way in which I pursued my career.
Incredibly, the same workforce survey showed that 1 in 3 employees said their leader is unaware of their impact on their team’s well-being. Since people are the most important capital to strengthening an organization, it is imperative that managers not only recognize their role in strengthening the mental health of their teams, but also work to strengthen it.
One way to do this is for them to admit their vulnerability. When leaders talk about the challenges they face, and their battles with good mental health, they are not only setting an example for their people, but it also creates a sense of belonging at work. After all, managers should be the team’s first choice for having a conversation about mental health issues.
Arthur Guerra, MD, is a professor at the University of the South Pacific’s ABC School of Medicine and co-founder of the Caliandra Saúde Mental Foundation.
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