Mental Health Is A 'Taboo' Subject At Executive Level

Mental Health Is A Taboo Subject At Executive Level

Mental health awareness has reached an inflection point! People are more and more reluctant to reveal they have a mental illness. Mental illness still faces a persistent social taboo mainly due to it not being safe to talk about in the workplace. Despite the fact that over 200 million workdays are lost due to mental health conditions each year ($16.8 billion in employee productivity), mental health remains a taboo subject. In fact, almost 60% of employees have never spoken to anyone at work about their mental health status – referenced stat from this terrific article - https://hbr.org/2019/10/research-people-want-their-employers-to-talk-about-mental-health

Mental illness in the workplace at best is addressed on average as a compliance issue, where they feel as though they have to be seen to be doing ‘something’, yet not fully embraced as a key mission critical strategy within your organisation.

My article today however is focused not on the employee but on those in senior leadership roles. Ever noticed how mental health is palatable to talk about in the workplace at an employee level but NEVER in the context of Senior Executive Leadership? Stigmatisation exists. 

No one can sustain the superhuman expectations placed on them from EVERY quarter ESPECIALLY not our most senior leaders. Yet day in and day out the expectation remains. Leaders, especially are hurting right now. Houston we have problem no one wishes to acknowledge! There is a need to bring more dialogue, support, and empathy, along with breakthrough initiatives to support leaders (at the highest level) not only navigate through but dominate and thrive despite uncertainty to achieve unprecedented ‘sustainable’ RESULTS.

As the landscape changes, so too should the terrain. The irony, social distancing globally due to the Covid 19 pandemic has created more connection/association in ways that one could never have imagined. Leaders pre-covid who were unwilling to grow, evolve, change before are now being forced to change. A high percentage, however, are unfamiliar with the terrain of 'uncertainty'. We will not be returning to what was, nor will we be able to navigate the future using traditional linear leadership practices.

Why is more not being done in this arena – we may have a viral pandemic going on but we also have an urgent pandemic of a different nature going on ‘an unspoken, unacknowledged issue of grave repercussions that if not addressed will impact the stability of the leadership landscape globally!’

It begs the question – who do high level leaders talk to in their quiet moments? READ ON…

Excerpt from Forbes Magazine: Linkedin Research Reveals Rise Of Executive Imposter Syndrome by Benjamin Laker onforwarded to me by Kim Adele Platt/Executive Coach UK

https://www.forbes.com/sites/benjaminlaker/2020/09/23/linkedin-research-reveals-rise-of-executive-imposter-syndrome/?sh=62fc08452ae0

Leaders are used to being ‘in control’. Based on new research from Linkedin, the world’s largest professional network, reveals how C-level executives have navigated their organisations through the global pandemic, with more than two thirds (69%) finding it THE MOST challenging experience of their career. Many have had to make difficult decisions regarding the future of their business and workforce, with nearly a third (32%) having to make employees redundant, (42%) asking workers to take a pay cut, and in the case of the UK, (62%) of leaders putting staff on furlough. The findings demonstrate the significant challenges business leaders have faced due to the pandemic. 

One of the biggest challenges the majority (72%) of leaders across Europe have struggled with is not have all the answers, with over half (52%) at times doubting their ability to lead. A third say they have to rely on gut instinct/softer skills to make decisions and almost three quarters (74%) have to put on a cheerful face even though they do not feel optimistic about business performance. Over half (58%) have also found leading ‘virtually’, challenging. Over half (56%) of leaders say the global pandemic has harmed their mental health, with (37%) finding it difficult to switch off from work and (41%) experiencing higher stress levels. A quarter say they have experienced ‘imposter syndrome’ during this period.

Under the weight of increased scrutiny and heightened expectation leaders are expected to perform supernaturally with NO or limited support. They have to be the strong hold for their wives, husbands, significant others, their children, their stakeholders, their employees, their executive, their direct reports, their shareholders, themselves.

 The research above goes on to say (74%) believe this experience has had them question their leadership style and a further (67%) believe it will have lasting impact. With uncertainty around Covid-19 casing fear and worry amongst employees, (44%) noted having to demonstrate more essential softs skills, such as empathy, compassion and emotional intelligence. To enhance their leadership, (29%) of executives turned to online learning, (25%) turned to management consultants and (23%) turned to executive coaches for help. The study concludes that Covid-19 has allowed the majority of leaders (69%) to build closer relationships with their employees, with almost half (45%) communicating with their workforce more regularly than before the pandemic to instil a sense of community. Around 3 quarters (74%) say that employees expect greater transparency from leadership as a result. (72%) of leaders noted that employees had become kinder and more considerate towards each other during this crisis. Final stats: (60%) of leaders are considering restructuring their organisation to reduce costs / (64%) state that creating a fairer and more equitable workplace is essential / (32%) want to improve the diversity in the workforce and finally (39%) are considering introducing flexible work hours to support working parents and those with dependents better.

 I do not know about you but these statistics speak for themselves. Something needs to be done to support those in the highest positions, our CEO’s, our C-suite Executives, our Politicians, our Global Influencers and I for one am committed to partner these leaders through the terrain of ‘uncertainty’ to move from surviving to thriving and making this experience be one of the most transformative in their lives.

Leaders deserve to be supported. They want a higher level of discretion given who they are and rightly so given what they have to manage on a day to day basis. So if you are leader ready to be supported in a way that you feel you deserve then reach out, let’s talk, maybe it’s ti