The Challenge
The client’s industry was short of decimated during the pandemic. Since the initial lockdown in March 2020, the client organisation was forced to implement various restructures that included the dismissal of employees for operational requirements.
When we engaged with the client in early 2022, the organisational culture was at an all time low, with employees feeling insecure, many suffering ‘survivor guilt’ and levels of psychological safety was dangerously low. The client was aware of how stress levels were causing employees to react impulsively and how they were clinging to habitual behaviours instead of looking for opportunities. The organisation wanted to reignite passion and employee engagement and build a culture that promotes mental health and well-being. The client also wanted to launch learning programmes designed to teach employees new skills, to boost internal mobility and to bring about, hope, optimism, and a sense of ‘it’s okay not be okay’.
Our Solution
We partnered with a large provider of EAP (employee assistance programmes) in designing a learning pathway anchored in some of our Future Fit skills that research has shown can promote mental health and well-being. Research has shown:
- Curiosity to be associated with higher levels of positive emotions, lower levels of anxiety, more satisfaction with life, and greater psychological safety.
- That a growth mindset allows people to navigate stress and challenges better and can lead to higher levels of wellbeing.
- Learning Agility boosts self-confidence and self-esteem, helps build a sense of purpose, and fosters connection with others.
- That Change Resiliency helps establish a holistic approach to health, addressing both physical and psychological states, and helps one cope with and adapt to new situations.
- The learning pathway included masterclasses, Conversation Cafés and one-to-one coaching.
Results
In the 3 months following the intervention:
- Levels of employee engagement increased by 22%.
- Innovation ideas recorded through the Innovation Incubator increased by 15%.
- Employee focus groups revealed employees experienced a greater sense of ‘belonging and psychological safety’.
- Employees across all levels were more willing to speak out about mental health issues and ask for assistance and help colleagues – Mental Health is no longer stigmatised!
Download Promoting a Culture of Mental Health & Well-Being Case Study
