Christie Solway’s Post

In my career as CIO, the most critical aspect to master is to solicit feedback. Here are the two questions that could have a profound positive effect on your career performance as an executive leader: 1. How can I improve? 2. How would you improve this? Making it safe for others to share their perception of your performance with you openly is a game changer for your career. Also, you can learn some of these techniques from Eric Partaker's Peak Performance course. ♻️ If you enjoy these daily tips and tricks from the trenches, subscribe to my free newsletter, where I share useful advice for a better career and life experience: https://lnkd.in/gRVr6rpc.

Is your organization prioritizing the mental health of its staff? It's crucial to have open discussions and support systems in place to ensure their well-being. Have you adapted policies or procedures to address this issue? I have condensed the five points from the article which offers some insights on how to manage and elevate the discussion. Start with the Work: Tailor mental health support to specific roles. Flexible work arrangements can reduce stress and anxiety. Don’t Rely Solely on Outsiders: Engage internal champions and leaders. Managers who understand and model mental health practices can drive real change. Foster Conversations Across Generations and Genders: Increase mental health literacy to reduce stigma. Encourage men to participate in mental health discussions. Provide generational spaces for sharing experiences. Invest in the Long Term: Understand that technology can contribute to mental health issues. Focus on building meaningful relationships at work. Walk the Talk: Leaders should openly share their own mental health practices. Simple, human-centered actions can have a powerful impact. #MentalHealthAwareness #WorkplaceWellness

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

Workplace wellness programs work when 1 - the program is tailored to the unique needs of the employees involved. 2 - it’s not “assigned” to one person or team to change culture. 3 - It’s about helping people feel well enough to be their best in their environment, whatever that environment is. We’ve tried promoting an approach of not letting workplace stressors (people, workloads, culture) affect us at home and vice versa, leaving our home stressors at the door. But this has gotten more and more difficult for us. And I think rightfully so as we live 50% of our time at work for those who work full time. Separating our two worlds as if it is a switch to be turned off and on is unrealistic. Our wellbeing is the very essence of our being, and we are beings at work and at home. Its time to bridge the two. “Today, workers demand more than just a paycheck — It’s not just about ticking off boxes, it’s about creating a culture where employees feel empowered to prioritize self-care without fear of repercussions” The issue is no longer a negligible one. #mentalhealthatwork #mentalhealthmatters #wellness #wellbeing #employeewellbeing

Suppressing emotions can have several negative consequences that we may not even realize are connected. From stress and tension, fatigue and burnout to mental health challenges, relationship issues, and compromised health conditions... the sooner you learn healthy ways to engage with, understand from, and become emotionally empowered the more fulfilling, happy, and successful your life can be. Join me. https://iiee.training #emotionallyempowered #empowerment #iiee #iieetraining #emotionalempowerment #michellebersell #feelings

3 Ways to Build an Organizational Culture That Supports Mental Health (hbr.org)

Suppressing emotions can have several negative consequences that we may not even realize are connected. From stress and tension, fatigue and burnout to mental health challenges, relationship issues, and compromised health conditions... the sooner you learn healthy ways to engage with, understand from, and become emotionally empowered the more fulfilling, happy, and successful your life can be. Join me. https://iiee.training #emotionallyempowered #empowerment #iiee #iieetraining #emotionalempowerment #michellebersell #feelings

When you're a leader, emotional regulation is important if you're to avoid high stress levels from hijacking you.  Every day, you'll encounter situations that have the potential to cause stress, anxiety and overwhelm. If you don't regulate your emotions around these tricky situations, you can find your decision-making, productivity and wellbeing are affected.  In this ⬇️ European Business Review shares eight strategies to develop your self-regulation skills ⬇️  #EmotionalIntelligence #selfregulation #wellbeing #leadership

Ever wonder if one moment could change your entire leadership approach? In this powerful episode in our crisis leadership series, Martin Ali Simms, CPT, PES, CES, 🧠NM-Sport shares his inspiring journey through devastating crises. His story is a testament to the power of empathy, proactive leadership, and the transformative potential of community support. Here's a powerful quote that highlights the importance of mental health support during crises: "The deeper the crisis, the deeper the need for some of these mental health practices... We're teaching them [youth] different strategies and techniques to ground themselves, do affirmations, meditations, breath work... We don't have to be therapists to create a therapeutic environment for the ones we love." Want to learn how to foster resilience, build community support, and create a more empathetic leadership style? Listen to the full episode and discover strategies for leading through challenging times. https://lnkd.in/eRvJskE4 #LeadershipDevelopment #CrisisManagement #MentalHealth

The first step to improving employee mental health is getting leaders to talk about it: “What leaders say and do makes up to a 70% difference,” in whether employees feel supported https://lnkd.in/eeUZgud