IT REALLY IS THE MANAGER!

I've been saying this since 2014, but managers really are the key to well-being. They make — or break — the level of well-being for their team members. New data released by Deloitte, Gallup, and McKinsey all agree—the manager's role deeply affects employee well-being, engagement, and productivity. 

This means that if you’re a manager, and if you’re not prioritizing your well-being, then you're putting yourself --and your team — at risk.

Here’s what the recent Deloitte Report had to say: 

Nearly all employees (94%) and their managers (96%) believe that managers have some responsibility for the well-being of their teams. Despite that, most managers are not taking meaningful action. Here’s what the data shows in relation to managers are doing (or not doing) for their team members:

• A little over half (54%) check in with their team to see how they’re doing.
• Less than half (48%) make sure that work loads are reasonable.
• Less than half (47%) make sure that people are taking breaks during the day.
• Only 38% encourage their team to take advantage of company wellness programs.
• Even less – 37% - make sure their team members take their vacation time.
• A dismal 35% are open about their own personal well-being.
• Only 30% are modeling healthy behaviors.
• And only 26% create any team-based well-being activities. 

Here’s what the hot-off-the-press State of the Global Workplace 2023 Gallup Report had to say:

The forecast is super depressing, with researchers predicting that “A lost decade could be in the making for the global economy.” But – they do give a solution, in fact, one clear answer: Change the way people are managed. 

Or, put another way: Give people better managers. And, in saying “better,” they mean give people managers who prioritize well-being.

Here are some of the juicy stats they shared:

• Only 23% of workers are thriving at work (which is apparently the highest level since Gallup first began measuring global engagement in 2009).
• Nearly six in 10 employees are “quietly quitting.” That is, they’re not engaged, but they’re quiet about it.
• Meanwhile, another 18% are loud about it. That is, they’re “actively disengaged” – and hellbent on bringing others down with them.
• These persistent, low levels of engagement (quiet and loud) are costing the world $8.8 trillion a year – which is a whopping 9% of the global economy.

Upshot: This is not just a profit issue; it’s a human issue. As succinctly stated in the report: “Poor management leads to lost customers and lost profits, but it also leads to miserable lives.”

And the key differentiator in cleaning up all of this mess? The manager! In their words: “The manager is the linchpin of engagement.”

And, finally, here’s what the McKinsey Health Institute had to say:

Levels of burnout are at all-time highs. Most company leaders are concerned. According to the survey, over 70% of companies across 15 countries report that addressing employee mental health is a top priority. But, meanwhile, while the commitment is there, the impact is not. Over a quarter of the 15,000 employees surveyed are reporting burnout and mental distress. WHY? 

According to the researchers, company leaders are solving the wrong problem. That is, most companies are providing resources for the individual employee — and are failing to address one of the biggest impacts on employee well-being, which is the manager.

So, now what?

Know that as a team leader, you’re uniquely positioned to promote well-being for your team members. Through your guidance and influence, you can help your team become their “best selves,” flourishing in their well-being. The steps forward – for you and your team – are as follows:

• Do: Lead by example.
• Speak: Talk about well-being.
• Create: Devise team-based systems, processes, rituals and activities that normalize well-being within the team.

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June has been a full-on “Manager Activation Tour.” Three different organizations (University of Vermont, Tennessee Valley Authority, and CGI), across three different states (Vermont, Tennessee and Virginia). A big thanks to the amazing activators at each of these organizations who made it happen: Cara Hancy, Michelle Clarke and Kim Allen!

TRANSFORM YOUR WORKPLACE BY ACTIVATING YOUR MANAGERS.

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LEARN HOW

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LAURA PUTNAM

​​Laura Putnam is a leading catalyst for well-being at work, an international public speaker, and author of Workplace Wellness That Works. As CEO of Motion Infusion and creator of the leadership training program Managers on the Move, she infuses well-being into the workplace to help employees, teams and organizations thrive. You can follow her on Twitter @MotionInfusion.