Forming Connections

It was a typical Monday morning when Raj arrived at work. He had been struggling with anxiety and depression for some time, but he had kept it to himself. He didn't want to burden anyone or risk losing his job. As the day went on, Raj found it increasingly challenging to focus on his work, and he knew he wasn't performing at his best.

Meanwhile, Raj's manager, Priya, noticed a decline in Raj's performance. She didn't know what was causing it, but she knew something wasn't right. She wanted to support Raj, but she wasn't sure how and she didn't want to make things worse.

Over the next few days, Raj continued to struggle, and Priya became increasingly concerned. She knew she needed to talk to Raj, but she didn't know how to approach the subject. She was afraid of saying the wrong thing or violating Raj's privacy and their professional boundaries.

Have you experienced something SIMILAR in your workplace?

Do you struggle to form a CONNECTION with your manager or your employee?

It’s NOT your Fault!!!

There are several reasons why employees and managers may struggle to connect and provide support. These barriers include:

• Fear: Fear can be a significant barrier to communication between employees and managers. Both Raj and Priya felt fear when it came to having a difficult conversation about personal challenges. Raj was afraid of being stigmatized or losing his job, while Priya was afraid of saying the wrong thing or violating Raj’s privacy.
• Lack of knowledge: Lack of knowledge about mental health or other personal challenges can prevent managers from providing effective support. Priya initially struggled with how to support Raj because she didn't know what resources or accommodations were available to support Raj.
• Stigma: Stigma surrounding mental health or personal challenges can prevent employees from seeking the support they need. Raj was hesitant to disclose his mental health challenges because he feared being stigmatised or judged by others. This stigma can also impact how managers perceive and respond to employees who are struggling.

When these barriers exist, communication between the employee and the manager can break down, leading to misunderstandings and a lack of support. 

REMEMBER sometimes it’s IMPORTANT to have DIFFICULT conversations!!!

Having difficult conversations can help employees and managers form a connection and provide the necessary support. These conversations can include: 

• Discussing Accommodations
• Job Expectations
• Employee's needs
• Discussing career goals
• Addressing performance issues
• Discussing personal challenges
• Providing feedback
• Resolving conflicts

This Mental Health Awareness Month let's take a pledge to acknowledge the importance of breaking down barriers, normalising having difficult conversations and creating a meaningful connection in the workplace. 

We are excited to announce that in honour of Mental Health Awareness Month, we will be organizing a webinar on Mental Health with an INTENT. The webinar will be held on May 20th (Saturday) at 11:00 AM.

Register here!