COVID has been a top topic of conversation at work and at home for most construction pros. Mental health fallout from the "new normal" resulting from COVID might be considered the "second pandemic." Mental health and discussing it at work is tricky. There's often a stigma associated with mental health so it isn't talked about at work which only further reinforces that stigma surrounding mental health at work. What can we do as construction leaders to encourage mental health discussion without making things awkward or worse than before we tried to help? Well, there's three main things according to an HBR article.
Get holistic. We might ask about physical pain so we can start with that then ask about mental health as well. We can also share our own struggles because can make others feel more comfortable opening up.
Don't try to fix it. People don't usually like to be fixed but as leaders we can help connect people with the tools and resources they might need to feel better.
Actually listen. Listen more than you talk. This requires engagement and actively listening. If you don't listening won't be productive and the person talking will be able to tell that you aren't truly listening.
We can't change what is going on and much about what happens to us because of COVID but we can choose how we react and how we treat people. In good times and bad, treating people right is good for their soul, good for our soul and, more often than not, good for business and the bottom line.
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