Workplace Productivity: Mental Health, Mentorship and Emotional Support
Summary: By incorporating mentorship and emotional support, and using practical techniques to quiet the mind and focus, employees can achieve higher satisfaction and productivity at work.
Benefits of Mentorship:
1. Enhances job performance and speeds up skill acquisition. Mentees are promoted five times more often than non-mentees (Sun Microsystems).
2. Offers guidance on career paths and growth opportunities. 25% of mentees experience salary-grade changes, compared to 5% of non-mentees (Gartner).
3. Reduces turnover rates by 72% for mentees and 69% for mentors (Mentoring.org).
Importance of Emotional Support:
1. Mental Health: Reduces stress and anxiety, leading to higher job satisfaction (91% of supported employees) (APA).
2. Productivity: Boosts motivation and engagement, creating a positive work environment (Forbes).
3. Team Cohesion: Enhances trust and teamwork, leading to better collaboration (Journal of Environmental Psychology).
Quieting the Mind and Focusing on Your Purpose:
1. Mindfulness Meditation:
- Practice: Spend 5-10 minutes daily on mindfulness meditation.
- Effectiveness: Reduces stress and improves focus. Regular practice decreases amygdala volume and increases prefrontal cortex activity (Psychology Today).
2. Goal Setting:
- Practice: Use SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) for clear goals.
- Effectiveness: Provides direction and purpose. 14% with goals are 10 times more successful; 3% with written goals are 3 times more successful (Harvard Business).
3. Prioritization and Time Management:
- Practice: Use the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize tasks. Allocate specific time for high-priority tasks.
- Effectiveness: Ensures important work gets done. Good time managers are significantly more productive (Journal of Applied Psychology).
4. Breaks and Physical Activity:
- Practice: Take regular breaks (e.g., Pomodoro Technique: 25 minutes work, 5 minutes break). Incorporate physical activities like walking or stretching.
- Effectiveness: Refreshes mind and body, maintaining productivity. Physical activity enhances concentration and memory (Journal of Environmental Psychology).
References
1. Sun Microsystems Study on Mentorship: https://lnkd.in/ggp3t9pZ
2. Gartner Study on Career Advancement: https://www.gartner.com/en
3. Mentorship and Retention Statistics: https://www.mentoring.org
4. American Psychological Association Survey: https://lnkd.in/gcGhd_Gi
5. Emotional Support and Productivity: https://lnkd.in/gxAXqEmK
6. Team Cohesion and Emotional Support: https://lnkd.in/gFYs_NPG
7. Mindfulness and Brain Changes: https://lnkd.in/gQUeUSqd
8. Harvard Business Study on Goal Setting: https://lnkd.in/gTUA4jeK
9. Journal of Applied Psychology on Time Management: https://lnkd.in/gnDNpxn7
10. Journal of Environmental Psychology on Physical Activity: https://lnkd.in/gGBfii84
"There’s no magic app to make people happier at work. Becoming a more mentally healthy organization is a commitment to change the fundamentals, and it starts with leadership."
5 Strategies for Improving Mental Health at Work
hbr.org
Executive Manager Risk Culture at Commonwealth Bank
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