If you are responsible for the performance, development, and wellbeing of leadership and management teams in your organisation, you have an important role to play in supporting these individuals as they face the unique challenges. Without proper guidance and understanding of these challenges, it is easy for new and existing managers to fall into the trap of using the same approach to work that served them well as a team member, ultimately leading to poor results, a stressed team, and overwhelm. In this blog post, we will explore the specific challenges faced by managers and leaders that can negatively impact mental health. We will also offer practical solutions for addressing them in order to create a supportive and successful environment for these individuals.
Section 1: Managing your own time
One of the biggest challenges faced by managers is the pressure to always be available and meet the demands of a leadership role. This can lead to poor time management and burnout. As a team member, it may have been beneficial to say yes to everything and work long hours in order to stand out and be recognised. However, as a manager, it is important to prioritise tasks and delegate effectively in order to create a sustainable and efficient workflow. Providing guidance and support on time management and prioritisation can help managers to better manage their workload, prevent burnout, and create a positive culture.
Section 2: Control over workload
As a manager, it is important to have control over your workload in order to prioritise tasks and avoid being overwhelmed. This can be a challenge if you are used to saying yes to everything as a team member. Providing training and support on setting clear priorities and learning to say no can help managers to maintain control over their workload and prevent burnout. It's not a given that managers comprehend they can't do everything. Making peace with this and developing the ability to challenge or say no to work is one of the most significant issues I see managers struggling with.
Section 3: Defining values and leading a team
A key aspect of leadership is setting a clear vision and values for your team to follow. However, this can be a challenge if you are not used to leading and setting the direction for a team. It is also important to address behaviour that does not align with these values, but this can be difficult if you are not accustomed to addressing issues as a team member. Providing guidance and support on developing leadership skills, such as setting a vision and addressing behavioural issues, can help managers to effectively lead and set a positive direction for their team.
Section 4: Self-belief and confidence
The transition from team member to manager can be intimidating, and it is important to have self-belief and confidence to pursue your vision. As a team member, you may have relied on following the vision of others in order to succeed. However, as a manager, it is crucial to have the confidence to pursue your own vision and inspire your team to follow. Providing support and resources for building self-confidence, such as seeking feedback and setting goals, can help managers to develop the confidence they need to succeed in their leadership roles.
A lack of confidence or self-belief can hide away when a person isn't required to set and move towards goals. In a team member position, this is unlikely to be brought to the surface, but in a management or leadership position, it certainly will be. From working with hundreds of managers, I have found the most effective way to address this is through discussions of negative self-talk. Everybody has negative self-talk that tries to self-sabotage when creating goals; learning to accept that so you can move past it is an essential skill for managers to develop to enable growth and good mental health.
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Conclusion:
As the person responsible for the development, performance, and wellbeing of leadership and management teams, it is important to be aware of the unique challenges that these individuals face. By providing guidance and support on time management, workload control, leadership skills, and self-confidence, you can create a positive and supportive environment for your managers and leaders to thrive in. This will not only improve their mental health, but also the overall success and performance of your organisation.
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Author:
Mike Jones Better Happy Founder
Mike founded Better Happy in 2018.
He now works with a variety of businesses ranging from small accountancies up to large organisations such as Travelodge on improving employee happiness. Mike's vision and the vision of Better Happy is 'Every employee happy, every business thriving'
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