“A good life depends on the strength of our relationships with family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and strangers.” – David Lammy
One would hope that somebody will notice if you work in a company surrounded by other people and are having a rough day. One of the signs of a company that does not value worker wellbeing or resilience is the feeling that you are all alone when you are not feeling at your best.
The most mindful of companies, led by conscious leadership, create a culture of support, connection, kindness, and shared responsibility (for both the work and the wellbeing of all who work within it). That being said, it is also our duty as individuals, whether you are part of a workforce like this or not, to look out for those that we spend most of our days with. After all, we wouldn’t want to feel totally alone in a room full of colleagues, would we?
Here are a few thoughts on how to help create a supportive environment, wherever it is that you spend your working hours…
1. Stay Consciously Connected
Staying connected sounds obvious. You need to connect with colleagues to collaborate on tasks and projects, so connection goes without saying, right? Well, maybe not. Yes, you will talk about work stuff with others, but make sure you also take the time to understand how they are feeling and about what is going on with their lives. Also, try not to be someone who judges any of this, just let people be people, with their joys, struggles and opinions without it necessarily impacting how they function at work. All of this is especially important if, as my wife does, you work from home and only speak to colleagues via video call. Make sure you check in about life stuff as well as work stuff.
2. Signs of Struggle
Try to be observant about colleagues. Get to know them properly. This doesn’t mean that you have to be the best of friends, but it does mean keeping your eyes open to the tendencies and systems of the other people you work with. Not only does this make it easier to understand who is good at what, and how to assign people to tasks (if task assigning is something that you do), but it also helps you to know if something is off. Observation will help you to see signs of struggle.
3. Reach Out
Reaching out and asking if somebody is OK is not that big a deal. Don’t be afraid of being judged for overreacting. Often, people who are not doing great find it hard to ask for help, or to even realize that they are struggling. Be the person to open up that conversation and try not to hesitate… because the longer somebody stays in a state of strain, the worse it gets.
4. Be Open to Help Requests
When you are checking in on someone, understand that you may need to take action for them. You will likely ask if there is anything you can do to help… so mean it. Being a friend and support to someone is easy when it is convenient. In order to look after the wellbeing and resilience of colleagues, be prepared to be inconvenienced for the greater good.
5. Ask for Help Yourself
Be an example. If you are having a bad day, ask for help. Show your colleagues that asking for assistance is OK, and in doing so, go against the stigma of weakness that such an action apparently implies. You are no good to anyone if you are not well. Conscious companies understand that success is a team effort, and sometimes that means holding others up when they are unable to do so entirely by themselves.
By Chris Thomson
P.S. Whenever you are ready… here are 4 ways we can support your personal and professional Conscious Goals:
1. Learn To Meditate With Neil In Just 10 Days!
Zen in Ten, our flagship online course, is a ten-day mindfulness challenge for people who need to slow down.
2. Work With Neil One-To-One
See if a Coaching Partnership or Professional Wellbeing Appointment is right for you. Book a 15-minute discovery call with Neil Seligman here.
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See if The Conscious Professional training and coaching programmes are right for your team or workplace. Book a call here.
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