You may have noticed over the last year Managers/Team Leaders/Directors/Owners had to adapt to COVID-19 to keep their businesses, livelihoods and employees working this inevitably led to a hybrid working between home and the office. This may lead to Directors and their colleagues being nervous, some are suffering from anxiety and other conditions due to being separated from family, colleagues and friends, this means it is now more important than ever to manage people’s mental health. By focusing on a healthy mindset is better for your colleagues and it will inevitably improve companies’ efficiency. This can be seen in the Book written by Dale Carnegie How To Win Friends and Influence People. In Mr. Carnegie’s writings, he makes the compelling argument that a happy workforce that is led by an outgoing and happy Manager and Directors, with the correct mindset and positivity will lead to a more efficient workforce. It’s important to add that Dale Carnegie advocates that by simply smiling and being cheerful genuinely and humanly that the productivity of the workforce will naturally increase, in turn, this will spread to the whole organisation.
Making hard choices that don’t need to be made
We all know life requires sacrifices whilst we are younger providing you make the right decisions and put in the right work and take action on the opportunities we are bound to prosper. However, being forced to choose between your career and your family is not something that should, or needs to be required in today’s modern working environment. Steve Jobs had a vision of remote working in 1990
It’s also necessary to add even though the nature of work has changed which scares people particularly traditionalists, because change is scary, but it’s important to remember that humanity has been through this before and will go through this again. Therefore, it’s more important than ever that Managers, Team Leaders and Directors manage their employees effectively and keep in mind the Company’s efficiency as well as the mental health and wellbeing of its skilled workforce.
Saving money for employees and the company
Steve Jobs the co-founder of Apple stated in 1992 that by using computer technologies companies can create teams and then efficiently disintegrate the old team structure, move the team to other departments, to other tasks, thereby creating a more efficient organisation. Mr. Jobs also made the argument that companies are hard to change and to adapt to new environments Steve Jobs says in a video in 1990 that technology paired with an efficient workforce will increase a company’s efficiency. Due to Managers and organisations becoming more digitised an organisation can save money, management can be used more effectively and can create teams almost instantly, also technology cuts down on resources such as large office spaces with all the equipment and resources required to run an office. We have talked about the professional side of digitisation, now it’s time to talk about the personal side. Remote working helps the disabled who have difficulties going to work, but also helps mothers to raise families and for colleagues to have a healthy work-life balance. It’s also important to mention the financial aspect and stress of money Seth Meyers, a psychologist, states, that divorce is primarily influenced by financial problems.
If Managers and Team Leaders are facing domestic problems and financial woes these concerns will affect their productivity at the workplace this could be resolved by cutting down on commuting costs. Furthermore, by allowing colleagues to work from home they then can meet the domestic and emotional demands at home and therefore be able to meet the work demands with a healthy and resilient mindset.
A quick overview: the latest statistics research found that 60% of the UK’s adult population are currently working from home during the Coronavirus lockdown. 26% of Brits plan to continue to work from home permanently, or occasionally after lockdown. On average, each of these workers will save £44.78 a week by cutting out things like commuting and buying lunch out. This results in 23.9 million Brits working from home are saving around £1.1 billion each week between them. Before the lockdown, only 1.54 million people worked from home for their main job, that is just 6% of how many do so now during the lockdown.
Ten years ago, this figure was a mere 884,000. Two different surveys both found that around two-thirds of employees say they’re more productive when working from home. However, one in five remote workers has also said they struggle with loneliness. Benefits of working from home increased productivity, employees generally appreciate a company that allows them to work from home and research has suggested that this could also boost productivity for the employer. 65% of workers said they would be more productive in a home office than a normal office. 75% of workers say they will be more productive due to reduced distractions. 83% of employees feel they do not need an office to be productive. Two-thirds of employers report increased productivity for remote workers compared to in-office workers.
Remember to have a strong mindset
Focusing more on your mental health will inevitably affect your performance at work by having a healthy and constructive work-life balance, your colleagues, Managers and Directors will be far more productive by finding the correct balance between remote and office working. It is important to mention that this blog is not fighting for pro-remote working, or return to work but is working in a way that complements both sets of peoples. It is also necessary for all people no matter the profession to seek a method to strengthen their mental and physical health by focusing on the psychological side of Managers and Business owner’s health; this will, in turn, lead to happier workers and happier home life.
Kevin Samuels spent 30 years working in Marketing and Sales and Brand Management is currently working as an Image Consultant and Social Media Influencer. Mr. Samuels, makes the argument that to be “a highly valued man, or a highly valued professional, or just a normal worker” it is important for an individual to seek a professional psychologist to look after their mental health. Having a healthy mindset means you can be healthy at work and can be healthy at home. Mental health cannot be seen like a broken leg or a cut, but it is very important for yourself and your colleagues.
As leaders, your actions speak louder than words, set the example of self-care, feel good in yourself to then enable others to feel good in themselves too.
Linda Sage
To know more about Linda Sage:
Website: – www.lindasage.com
Learning from Life – Podcast – https://bit.ly/LindaSagePodcast
My book – Caring for the Caregiver – https://www.amazon.com/dp/1974635651
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