CLH News #247 October/November 2022

5 Considerate Ways to Support Employees Dealing with Stress and Anxiety

‘As a leader in the hospitality industry you are inherently responsible for the wellbeing of your staff. Importantly, this includes employees’ mental health; it’s vital that you look out for signs of anxiety and stress amongst your team, for these struggles go unreported at an alarming rate. More specifically, it’s been found that whilst 1 in 6 working adults are suffering from stress, depression, anxiety, or similar, 20% feel they cannot approach their managers with their respective health issues.

Evidently, for you to succeed as a manager, hone a happy, productive team, and strengthen your business’ results in turn, mental health must be a priority. Of course, this is an indisputably difficult task; every leader needs a helping hand as they navigate this sensitive subject.

Fortunately, we have an ideal expert on hand to help leaders within the hospitality space, ensuring every employee is equipped with the support and resources that they need to address feelings of stress and anxiety. Dr. Ant, The Brain Whisperer (www.brain-whisperer.co.uk), is a mindset specialist who helps staff and CEOs alike enrich their mental health. Now, he’s sharing his expertise.

1. LISTEN AND ENGAGE.

‘One of the simplest and yet most effective things that you can do to support your staff is listen to them and genuinely engage. They need to know that you truly care, have processed their feedback, and are willing to help. If you can, sit down with your team members individually to catch-up and establish any struggles they’re facing. This way, you can help to create a plan for the workplace that’ll lessen their anxieties.’

2. INVEST IN SUPPORTIVE PLATFORMS.

‘Ensuring your employees have the resources to address feelings of stress and anxiety is crucial. I would recommend investing in a platform which offers your staff access to expert-led guidance, information, and support. For example, BrainSparx is a digital platform that’s home to invaluable videos and advice which can help staff members re-discover lost confidence and address these hurdles without feeling alone or overwhelmed.’

3. CONSIDER A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER.

‘Sometimes employees are apprehensive to raise their mental health concerns individually. This may be a daunting prospect and the conversation may feel more comfortable in a group setting. For this reason, I would suggest considering a motivational speaker; by having an expert visit your employees in person, sharing informed guidance surrounding mental wellbeing, self-confidence, and success, you can ensure your employees feel supported

without any pressure.’

4. NURTURE YOUR OWN MENTAL HEALTH.

‘As a leader, you can only enrich your employees’ wellbeing by focusing equally on your own. If you are confident, happy, and flourishing, you will more easily be able to instil these feelings in your staff. Equally, be honest with your team; by showing that you’re human and discussing any problems you’ve personally overcome, you will not only build a strong team rapport, but demonstrate the resilience that we are all capable of with a little help along the way.’

5. RECOGNISE THAT YOU’RE IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT.

‘In my opinion, one of the most important lessons you can teach your staff is that they are the pilots of their own lives and ‘what we think, we become’. This lesson can be seen on the BrainSparx platform, however I would also recommend remembering this for yourself. Even in our darkest moments, we must never forget that we are capable of creating positive change in our lives – no struggle is permanent.

The hospitality sector is undeniably fast-paced and high pressure, meaning anxiety and stress are not uncommon struggles. As a manger, it is incredibly important that you support your employees and demonstrate your willingness to invest in their wellbeing and mental health, be that through helpful platforms or by embracing valuable advice. The more guidance you receive, the more well-rounded support you can offer your team.’