Why sharing your story is the key to positive mental health

Leaders can become role models for openness and understanding

When it comes to prioritizing positive mental health in the workplace, we’ve seen a lot of great initiatives and programs. However, in my experience, nothing beats sharing your own story – and encouraging the people around you to share theirs, too.

As leaders, we are role models. When we are transparent about our own feelings, and we demonstrate empathy and vulnerability through open conversations, we build trust and create safe spaces for others to thrive.

Changing the conversation

I was honored to be part of Accenture’s Change Conversations podcast alongside Michelle Williams,?the Grammy Award Winning singer-songwriter, actress, and mental health advocate. Michelle is very open about her own experience of depression and a powerful example of how sharing your story can benefit others. Podcast hosts Emmanuel Acho and Jimmy Etheredge are big believers in the power of open conversation, too. As an athlete, broadcaster, and author, Emmanuel has shed light on mental health issues across our wider society. And as a leader at Accenture, Jimmy believes positive mental health should be top of the CEO agenda.

Bring your humanity to work

As Jimmy says on the podcast, it wasn’t very long ago that people didn’t talk about mental health. If you spoke up at work about your struggles, you might be considered weak. Thankfully, we’re starting to see a shift.

In the corporate world, for decades upon decades, we were trained to check our humanity in at the door. As soon as we walked into the office, it was all about the work, and not necessarily about us. We became conditioned to know that when we come in, we are covering some aspects of ourselves: I'm just here to do my job. I can't talk about the fact that I'm anxious, depressed, stressed. Whatever it is, I have to come in and just cover.

For many years, I myself compartmentalized a lot of things - to the point where the negative impact on my mental health became unsustainable. That experience taught be to be more honest about my emotions. When I feel it, I say it. And sometimes I will say it to somebody who I might not know very well. I might just say, “You know what? I’m out of sorts.” That sense of ownership, openness and accountability helps me. I hope it helps the people around me, too.

Build trust

As leaders, we need to really take time to listen to the people around us. Lean in with the person that's sitting across from you, whether that’s through a screen or in person. Let them know that you’re on the journey with them and you’re here to work things out together.

It's not always easy or comfortable, but when we are transparent about our own feelings, and we demonstrate empathy through conversations like this, we build trust. We create a safe space. And that safe space is so much more important to building a positive culture than ping pong tables and espresso machines, nice as those things are.

The bigger benefits

In a world where every organization strives to become a ‘great place to work’, there is increased recognition of the impact of employee wellbeing. By taking care of our employees, we are helping the bottom line to take care of itself. So I encourage leaders everywhere to sharpen their focus on people. By leading with transparency, empathy, and trust, we build stronger connections, greater harmony, and better workplaces.

Have a listen to Mental Health: Checking in and changing the conversation.