This month, we’re talking about wellbeing

There’s a growing recognition that wellbeing needs to be integrated into Learning and Development. We’re seeing more demand for programmes that address stress management, resilience, and overall workplace wellbeing. With so much uncertainty around, people are prioritising how to cope.

It’s also clear that creating a culture that supports mental health and wellbeing is becoming more important for business success. And many companies are moving beyond a tick-box approach and looking for solutions that genuinely make a difference. In this newsletter, we’ll explore how you can support workplace wellbeing.

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Managers Make or Break Wellbeing

We all understand the growing importance of employee wellbeing, but the biggest impact is in how it’s managed day-to-day. The truth is managers play a pivotal role in either supporting or undermining their team’s wellbeing. It’s not just about having the right policies in place - it’s about how those policies are lived out in the workplace. In our latest blog, we delve into why managers make or break wellbeing and share some key behaviours that can make a real difference.

Managers Make or Break Wellbeing - Willow & Puddifoot (willowandpuddifoot.com)

A word from Catherine on resilience

“Resilience - it's all about being tough, right?

We hear a lot about resilience and I wonder how many of us really think about how resilient we are, how well do we cope in stressful situations, do we really know what it means?

?Resilience isn't about suppressing emotions or being tough during difficult times, it's about approaching challenges with the right mindset and finding the strength to rise again after setbacks, so I'd like to share my 5 strategies for strengthening your resilience:

1. Create a support network: surround yourself with supportive friends, family members, mentors, and colleagues who offer encouragement, guidance, and empathy during difficult times. Having a reliable support system can enhance resilience by providing emotional validation and helps you cope with stress more effectively.
2. Practice self-care: prioritise self-care activities to maintain physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Self-care equips you with the resources and mindset needed to face challenges head-on, recover from stress, and continue moving forward, all of which are essential components of resilience.
3. Cultivate a growth mindset and positive thinking: create a positive outlook by reframing negative experiences as opportunities for growth and learning. Focus on what you can control and take proactive steps to address challenges. Cultivating optimism can help build resilience and improve your ability to bounce back from setbacks.
4. Adapt to change: enhance your ability to navigate challenges by developing effective problem-solving skills. Break down problems into manageable steps, brainstorm potential solutions, and take action to address them. Stay flexible and adaptable, willing to adjust your approach if necessary. Learning from past experiences can also help you develop resilience by providing valuable insights into overcoming similar obstacles in the future.
5. Emotional intelligence: strengthen your emotional intelligence by becoming more aware of your thoughts, feelings, and reactions to stressful situations. Emotional intelligence provides the tools to manage your emotions effectively, build strong relationships, and approach challenges with a positive and adaptable mindset, all of which are essential for developing and sustaining resilience.”

Industry insight

In 2023, a striking 28% of people cited wellbeing and work-life balance as the primary reason for leaving their job, according to recent research by Gallup.

More broadly, Gallup also reports that 61% of employees would change jobs for a company that offers better support for their wellbeing.

This underscores the critical importance of understanding and enhancing wellbeing in your workplace to retain top talent. For more details, read the full Gallup article on employee retention and attraction.

Events

For those of you in the Thames Valley (UK), there are some great in-person CIPD events coming up that you might like to come along to, including one on mental health:

• HR in an AI age: an interactive discussion forum – 18th September - Reading
• Understanding EDI and Neurodiversity at work - 24th September – Milton
• Time to prioritise mental health in the workplace – 10th October – Oxford

If we can help with developing your people, please do get in touch. [email protected]