Supporting Wellbeing and Reducing Stress in the Workplace
A recent research report from the CIPD (The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development ) showed that workplace stress is at an all-time high. With prolonged stress being linked to burnout, absenteeism, and reduced productivity, it's clear that companies need to prioritise employee well-being and mental well-being. In this blog post, we'll look at some of the ways organisations can support their people, how stress impacts performance, and the role coaching can play in taking a holistic approach.
Supporting Wellbeing in the Workplace:
Many companies are now offering wellness initiatives to foster healthy lifestyles and better manage stress levels. Examples include:
Flexible working arrangements - options like remote work and flexible schedules give employees more control over their time. This reduces stress from commuting and promotes better work-life balance.
Wellness days - giving employees a few paid days off per year to focus on their self-care and prevent burnout.
Mindfulness and meditation programs - research shows these practices are effective at reducing stress and anxiety. Lunchtime meditation sessions are an easy way to incorporate them.
Employee assistance programs - providing access to confidential mental health counselors and other support resources.
Worksite wellness challenges - fun team activities like step challenges to improve physical health.
The Impact of Stress on Performance:
When employees are dealing with high-stress levels, it takes a toll on their ability to perform at their best. The human body is designed to handle small bursts of stress, but chronic stress leads to the following issues:
Lack of focus and concentration - increased mistakes and reduced productivity
Diminished creativity and problem-solving abilities
More prone to sickness and fatigue
Increased cynicism, irritability, and negativity
By making well-being and stress management a priority, companies can create an environment where employees are engaged, energised, and able to thrive.
The Role of Coaching:
In addition to wellness initiatives, coaching is an impactful way to help employees manage stress and perform at their peak. Coaching takes a holistic approach - working on the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of wellbeing. Some examples of how coaching helps:
Building self-awareness around stress triggers, thought patterns, and inner critic voices
Developing healthy coping strategies and stress management skills
Working on mindset, resilience, and maintaining positivity
Improving time management and work-life balance
Uncovering values, strengths and reinforcing purpose/meaning
Whilst well-being initiatives on their own cannot tackle the overall problem, a combination of a healthy culture & environment alongside well-being initiatives helps support people's well-being and stress reduction, creating a culture where people can thrive in their day-to-day, with their workload and their environment being supported to encourage high-performing and engaged employees. Coaching is often a wonderful compliment to this approach of a healthy culture and well-being initiatives because qhen employees feel empowered, have tools to deal with challenges, and are playing to their strengths - that's when the magic happens!
With workplace stress reaching concerning levels, taking action to support mental health and well-being will benefit both employees and the company's bottom line. A multifaceted approach that includes wellness initiatives along with coaching is key. When companies invest in their people holistically, they will reap the rewards of a happier, healthier, and more productive workforce. Would you like to talk to one of our well-being coaches? Use the link below to book a call.
*This blog post was written by a human with the creative assistance of AI