In this month’s installment of our blog, we continue reflecting on how you can help your employees be happier, resulting in better engagement and productivity. Last time, we talked about supporting fundamental physiological needs, especially sleep. We continue with Maslow’s hierarchy, moving up to the second level: the need for safety and security.
Think of a time when you felt unsafe or insecure in a job. How did that impact your stress level, your mental health, your performance? How did it affect your relationship with your employer? What was the ripple effect outside of your job? Mulling on it brings up my own memories of anxiety and worry. I think of friends in companies beset by recent layoffs. There was angst and general paralysis while everyone waited to see who was getting fired.
We ask you to put yourself in “insecure shoes” because otherwise, you may not recall how insecurity breeds fear or sense how your employees feel if their environment isn’t supportive. We don’t often talk about fear at work, but it undermines resilience and it engenders defensiveness. As behavioral healthcare providers, we want our employees and team members to be creative, compassionate, and patient.
Are you doing everything possible to create safety and security in your workplace? Here are some things to consider.
· Do all staff—but especially those in client-facing roles—have adequate training? Are there enough people on the team to ensure everyone’s safety when patient crises arise? Under-training and understaffing not only create stress, but they can also lead to moral injury if adverse outcomes occur.
· Is the environment in your organization competitive or collaborative? Do team members feel scrutinized or supported? Are they pressured to perform or are they eager to contribute? Obviously, some of both can coexist. But which is the dominant vibe? Competition, scrutiny, and pressure make people feel like they’re walking on a tightrope and have to live with the specter of job loss.
· Are people afraid of making mistakes? Are they afraid of speaking up? Are they worried about expressing their authentic personality? If so, there may be a lack of psychological safety in your organization. Psychological safety allows us to be our best selves, creative and confident.
What this comes down to is, are your staff penalized for not being ideal workers? Unfortunately, a lot of employers treat people as if they should be, rather than recognizing that we’re all imperfect humans with imperfect lives (just like all jobs are imperfect jobs). Make it clear that you value your employees just as they are and prioritize their safety and their security. It’ll unlock another door to happiness and engagement.
| Do you have a wellness program? How can you support employees’ physical and mental health? Can you encourage your teams to rest and disconnect? INCITE can help you make it happen. Contact us for a conversation! |
