Developing People Managers for Wellbeing Excellence

Article Outline:

·?????? The critical role of managers in wellbeing.

·?????? Skills and tools essential for effective wellbeing management.

Welcome to my "Wellbeing Culture Change Series" a collection of articles designed to guide and inspire wellbeing leads and HR professionals.

My goal is to provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to develop and deliver mature and impactful wellbeing strategies that fosters healthy workplace cultures that thrive.

So lets jump in!

Article Three: Developing People Managers for Wellbeing Excellence

In today’s rapidly evolving workplace, the role of the people manager extends beyond overseeing tasks; it encompasses fostering a productive environment where wellbeing thrives. This article explores why managers are pivotal in shaping a wellbeing-focused culture and should be a significant investment in any successful wellbeing strategy. Plus, I cover the essential skills and tools they need to succeed.

A significant 63% of wellbeing leads reported not having mandatory people manager development in fostering mentally healthy cultures embedded into their wellbeing strategy in our Wellbeing Strategy Maturity Quiz.        

?The Critical Role of Managers in Wellbeing

The influence of your people managers on employee wellbeing cannot be understated. Recent surveys reveal a concerning picture in the UK: only 38% of respondents feel that their managers create a low-stress work environment. Alarmingly, more than half (54%) perceive their manager's impact on their mental health as either negative or simply neutral.

Also, a significant 62% of employees believe that their employers are not doing enough to address workplace stress, contributing to a climate where one in three employees consider leaving their jobs due to ineffective management. These statistics highlight a crucial area of opportunity for HR and Wellbeing Leads looking to improve employee satisfaction and retention. (References: Calm and Chartered Management Institute reports 2024)

Benefits of Developing Managers to Foster Wellbeing Cultures

Equipping your people managers with the skills to prevent work related stress and support mental health within their teams is not just a legal requirement—it's essential for fostering a thriving culture. Training managers in stress prevention and mental health support can transform your workplace culture, leading to numerous positive outcomes. Managers who are skilled in these areas can significantly boost team morale, enhance productivity, and reduce absenteeism.

Skills and Tools Essential for Effective Wellbeing Management:

Effective wellbeing management requires a specific set of skills and tools. This includes enhanced communication skills, empathy, and resources to prevent work related stress and support colleagues struggling with poor mental health. We delve into each of these areas, providing practical advice on how managers can integrate these tools into their leadership style in our Level 5 Mental Health and Wellbeing Culture Change Diploma.

Equipping managers with the right tools and skills is not just beneficial; it's essential for fostering a productive and healthy workplace. This investment in wellbeing can lead to increased employee satisfaction, lower turnover rates, and a more desirable workplace overall. Great places to work attract and retain the best talent.

In conclusion, the critical role of managers in employee wellbeing cannot be overstated. With only 38% of employees feeling their managers create a low-stress environment and 54% perceiving a negative or neutral impact on their mental health, it is clear that there is a significant need for improvement. The lack of adequate employer action on workplace stress, as believed by 62% of employees, further highlights this issue.

To address these concerns, it is essential for HR and Wellbeing Leads to prioritise the development of managers in stress prevention and mental health support as a strategic objective to improve wellbeing, culture and overall business success. . By equipping managers with essential skills and tools, organisations can transform their workplace culture, leading to increased satisfaction, reduced turnover, and the attraction of top talent.

Investing in manager training is not just beneficial—it's essential for creating a healthy, productive, and desirable workplace.

Read article one - Wellbeing Strategy Mastery

Read article two - Action Plan Excellence

Read article four - Strategies for Impactful Wellbeing Initiatives

For more details about how Our Mind's Work develop people leaders with these skills download the Level 3, Preventing Stress and Supporting Mental Health brochure here