Emotional Disconnection Between Leaders and Employees

Mental health in the workplace is significantly impacted when employees experience emotional disconnection from their leaders. For years, we have been bombarded with leadership mantras, motivational speakers, and gurus who espouse their innovative, evidence-based, best practices meant to marvel, inspire and drive productivity in the masses. Leaders who are excited to teach their employees new models, new strategies and new evaluations believe they will profit from greater teamwork, increase production, and yield greater economic results.

What leaders ignore is the toll it takes on their employees. Employees are feeling an incredible amount of pressure to perform, are faced with more work and fewer resources, and have less emotional support. Consequently, there is a great emotional disconnection with leaders, managers and their employees. This emotional disconnection arises when employees sniff out their disingenuous leaders energetically offering new and improved strategies, but in reality, they are piling up more work and forcing employees to continually outperform themselves. This disconnect fosters anxiety at work, strains mental wellness in the workplace, and affects overall workplace well-being, leading to an unhealthy and unproductive environment.

How Does Emotional Disconnection Affect Mental Health at Work?

Employees often feel overwhelmed, leading to incompetence and extended working hours, while others adopt a “work to rule” mentality. This approach fails to alleviate mental health challenges in the workplace, with outcomes like depression and anxiety at work. Emotional disconnection between leaders and employees creates a tense, unhealthy work environment, impacting mental health and well-being.

The disconnect affects employee mental health. Lack of support and pressure lead to burnout, stress, and symptoms of poor mental health. As work-life balance declines, mental wellness in the workplace suffers. Addressing mental health requires leaders to foster a psychologically healthy workplace for better employee well-being.

Strategies to Improve Workplace Wellbeing

I have outlined some practical suggestions to increase emotional connection among employees and between employees and their leaders. Addressing mental health issues in the workplace requires intentional actions to build a supportive and psychologically healthy environment. A strong focus on employee mental health can help reduce mental health problems, improve overall workplace well-being, and foster a more connected and engaged team.

Employees:

  • Discuss mental health challenges openly with coworkers to create a supportive network.
  • Share resources and strategies that promote mental wellness in the workplace.
  • Connect during breaks and lunchtime to strengthen community bonds, which can help mitigate symptoms of stress and anxiety at work.
  • Hold brief meetings to discuss workloads and find ways to manage stress related to mental health in the workplace.
  • Present ideas for a healthier workplace to leadership, encouraging an environment that promotes good mental health.
  • Encourage one another, focusing on mental wellness and reducing the stigma associated with mental health conditions.

Leaders:

  • Be authentic and approachable when addressing mental health concerns in the workplace.
  • Mentor and support employees by recognizing mental health problems and offering practical solutions.
  • Incorporate employees’ ideas into meetings to foster an inclusive environment that supports positive mental health at work.
  • Promote mental health activities, such as mindfulness sessions or exercise breaks, to create a healthier workplace.
  • Recognize and praise employees, which can positively impact their mental health and reduce workplace mental health issues.

Supporting Mental Health for Employees

Creating a supportive environment and recognizing good performance can significantly impact mental health in the workplace. A healthy workplace is about more than just physical health; it’s about creating a space where employees feel valued. Recognizing efforts and promoting appreciation can improve mental health conditions and reduce negative mental health outcomes, such as anxiety, depression, and burnout.

Supportive leadership is crucial for the mental health of employees. By promoting mental health at work through positive feedback, active listening, and engagement, employers can help create a psychologically healthy and safe workplace. Addressing mental health challenges openly and providing access to mental health resources reduces the stigma and improves employee well-being, productivity, and the overall work environment.

Support Workplace Mental Health with Innate Wellness

Emotional disconnection can severely impact mental health in the workplace. Innate Wellness offers psychotherapy services that can help employees and leaders manage these challenges, addressing issues like anxiety, depression, and other work-related mental health conditions. If you’re struggling with mental health in the workplace, contact us today to learn how our services can support your well-being and create a healthier workplace environment.