October 10
Photo courtesy of Caterina Minthe. Shot on location in Normandy, France, 2018.
“How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it!”
Today is World Mental Health Day but I like to believe that every day brings us the chance to do what we can to help others live with more hope.
The 10th of October inspires us to talk more about ways we can support the well-being of people all around the world. If we think about the role we play in supporting mental health and well-being within our own workplaces, the possibilities are endless. Workplace benefit programs help enhance access to professional resources yes, but we need to continuously think about how we can evolve our contributions to meaningful, supportive, and kinder relationships.
I have a new colleague. She’s energetic, ready to learn and has a zest that spells out a bountiful career ahead. We spent time together yesterday talking about what I could tell was on her mind lately. As we spoke, I felt privileged. Privileged? Yes because the thing is, helping one another brings about two things we all deserve – possibility and opportunity. As she was speaking I realized I wasn’t just lending an ear – I was helping her reinvigorate her outlook just by being there for her. Powerful stuff.
The idea of nurturing a psychologically safe workplace rests in our hands. Regardless of where we sit within our respective organizations, our actions, how we speak and listen to each other create a world of a difference for people.
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is leading transformational work to empower leaders at all levels to deliver mental health first aid (MHFA) – help offered to someone with “an emerging mental health problem or in a mental health crisis until appropriate treatment is found or the situation is resolved.”
The first aid program dispels common misconceptions on mental illness and helps participants recognize concerning signs and how to turn action into opportunity. More than 300,000 Canadians have completed training to date and MHFA has had a positive and long-lasting impact on Canadians across the nation.
If you haven’t yet taken the training (check with your HR colleagues within your workplace), don’t worry. Impact you can still make! And by the way, why must we wait for a trying situation to arise? Why not commit to elevating what’s going well; helping people be inspired to keep thriving as they improve their workplace performance while also feeling good too?
Learnings over coffee with Jean François Ménard, October 2018. Copyright Elena Iacono, 2018.
I had the privilege of sitting down with Jean François Ménard, Founder and President, Kambio Performance, last week (I’ll be writing a separate post on this in the coming weeks).
As well as working with Olympic athletes, he partners with senior executives to help them strengthen the right mental skills to reach the ultimate in performance excellence. By helping leaders master doing the small things right, people feel supported, more courageous, and safe.
But what are the small things? Hint – it’s the stuff we already know.
Things like sharing information to help others see the broader picture.
Remembering a small personal detail to show you were really listening.
Staying approachable and trustworthy.
Making others feel truly capable.
Celebrating small wins – as Jean François maintains “let’s get rid of the distinctions between big and small. If we’re accomplishing things that advance the business, celebrate!”
Another idea I really like is “replacing blame with curiosity” from a piece penned by Laura Delizonna. Remove fear by asking thoughtful questions to promote reflection and spark confidence.
Back to my colleague, my intent was simple when I reached out. I wanted her to know I was there for her if she needed an ear. I’m proud to say it’s part of who I am but it’s also a reflection of the environment I’m fortunate to be a part of. We’re there for each other. We’re united in helping make work happen and in building each other up. This is psychological safety in every way of the definition and my colleague reminded me that no act is too small to help make a difference.
“Elena, I was down and by offering me the chance to think and talk things through, you gave me the courage to keep trying.” I’m so grateful to know that I helped someone.
Being alone in your head with your thoughts can be scary. I’ve been there. Some of the most inspirational leaders I’ve ever met were also the most compassionate ones. Something may have happened to lead me to question my contributions, but my leaders helped make it a bit easier to think things through and ultimately, inspired to give stuff another go.
This World Mental Health Day, let’s remember to be there for each other. By way of how we nurture our workplace relationships (with the people we spend more than likely most of our time with from Monday to Friday), we have the opportunity to keep our colleagues safe, healthy and strong. The alternative is something I’m not willing to accept and I think you probably won’t either. As my mother always affirms, there’s always a kinder way.
She’s right.
It’s within us so let’s make today brighter for others.
