The stars are aligning. Why? Because it’s World Mental Health Day, the theme is ‘Mental Health at Work’, and I’m wrapping up my Positive Psychology Organisational Assignment for my Master’s program! I’m so excited to see this theme being selected as a focus for this year. As someone who is deep in the literature on how leaders influence workplace culture and wellbeing, I love that this theme resonates so strongly. Research shows a strong connection between mental health and positive business outcomes, and leaders play a crucial role in this dynamic.
While many workplaces have implemented wellbeing initiatives, these often only scratch the surface of what is really needed in the workplace. Coaching for leaders, gym memberships, and mental health days, while helpful, often fall short in addressing the complex issues we face in our evolving environment.
Having spent over 20 years in the health, fitness, and wellness space, I have observed the attempts at wellbeing from an individual and women’s health perspective. Despite the focus on strengths, empowerment, and coaching, the constant messaging around perfectionism, misaligned values, and persistent misinformation still prevails. While I appreciate the benefits of subjective wellbeing practices like a good stretch, time in nature, and mindfulness, I feel these approaches can be too passive or ineffective ‘band-aid’ solutions.
To truly enhance wellbeing, we must dig deeper into our systems, mental models, and processes that often lead to burnout. How often have you complained about kids needing to get off screens and eat healthier, only to find yourself binge-watching TV or indulging in comfort food? A change is necessary, and I believe it is underway. The evidence and trends shaping the industry suggest that adopting an adventure mindset can guide us in this endeavour.
The Adventure Mindset
From my experience leading outdoor adventures, I’ve learned that true growth occurs when we step out of our comfort zones. Encouraging our teams to embrace challenges in the workplace, sort of like tackling a steep hill or challenging bit of trail on a hike, cultivates resilience and makes us better at rejecting perfectionism. This process mirrors the workplace environment. By modelling an adventure mindset, we can inspire our teams to face obstacles with enthusiasm rather than apprehension.
Prioritising Wellbeing
Recent insights underscore the urgency of addressing mental health in the workplace. The World Economic Forum noted in a recent blog (read HERE) that when leaders prioritise employee wellbeing, they enhance the workplace experience for each individual employee and improve overall business outcomes. A workforce that feels supported, valued, and engaged is more likely to innovate and excel at whatever tasks they need to complete.
Here are a few strategies we can implement to enhance wellbeing in our organisations:
Foster connection: Just as adventures create new friendships among participants, we should create opportunities for our teams to connect. Whether through team-building activities or open discussions about mental health, fostering relationships is essential for better teamwork. Encourage employees to share their experiences and support one another, developing a culture of belonging.
Encourage autonomy: A key principle of positive psychology is autonomy. Allowing team members to take ownership of their work increases motivation and satisfaction. Just as hikers feel proud of their accomplishments when they reach the end of a challenging track, empower your employees to explore their ideas, take initiative in their projects, and feel proud of themselves and their achievements.
Create safe spaces for growth: Safety is paramount in adventure settings. To clarify, this does not mean safety from discomfort, but safety from judgement. We must create an environment where our teams feel secure expressing their concerns and taking risks without fear of judgement. Regular check-ins and open-door policies can foster a space for employees to share their challenges and triumphs.
Model balance and wellbeing: As leaders, we must embody the principles we promote. Take time to recharge, set boundaries, and prioritise your own mental health. When your team sees you valuing wellbeing, it encourages them to do the same. Share your experiences, whether they be positive outcomes, challenges, or learning opportunities, to inspire others to do so as well.
The Business Case for Wellbeing
Investing in employees’ mental health yields benefits that extend beyond the individual. Research shows that workplaces prioritising wellbeing experience lower turnover rates, increased productivity, and improved employee morale. When employees and leaders adopt an adventure mindset, they become more capable of tackling complex challenges or projects at work. They’re also able to cope better in the face of obstacles in work and life with greater confidence and creativity, and are less likely to move from job to job due to burnout.
When it comes to the ever-changing environment of the modern workplace, let’s start embracing the adventure mindset. By prioritising wellbeing, fostering connection, and modelling positive behaviour, we can cultivate thriving workplaces that enhance employee lives and drive better business outcomes. When we embrace an adventure mindset, we open the door to greater resilience, connection, and success. Let’s inspire one another to explore this exciting path and make a lasting impact on our teams and organisations.
Find out how we can help you and your workplace get into adventures to improve employee wellbeing and bring your team together like never before! Just click HERE to get started.
