For the past year, your team members have probably experienced peak stress levels. From the pandemic to political and social unrest, the stress is taking its toll. Prolonged stress can impact a person’s physical and mental health, eventually impeding their ability to do their job.

If you’re not sure how to support your sales reps’ overall well-being, read on. In this issue of Promotional Consultant Today, we share tips from the Timely blog on ways to help employees with their mental health.

1. Learn about mental health issues. The first step in supporting your employees’ mental health is to learn about common issues like anxiety and depression. Take time to spot warning signs and work on creating a trusting, supporting culture. The blog post points out that developing emotional intelligence is key in identifying any changes in your employees’ behavior.

2. Know what causes workplace stress. According to the blog, some common workplace stressors include work overload, a lack of support from managers, poor relationships with colleagues and unclear expectations. By working to eliminate these stressors, you can sometimes lessen or prevent serious mental health issues.

3. Watch employee performance. Do your sales reps feel too busy to take time off? Are they continually working late? Do they spend longer than usual on their tasks? If they are working too much or struggling to focus, it could be a sign of a work/life balance issue. By monitoring any changes in their performance, you can offer proactive support.

4. Normalize conversations about mental health. The blog post notes that leadership can make or break a company’s approach to mental health. As a manager, aim to provide regular check-ins that allow your employees to raise concerns or ask questions. You can also send staff surveys or create focus groups surrounding mental health topics.

5. Prioritize employee well-being. Look for ways you can weave in more support for your team members, whether that’s allowing employees to use sick days to manage their mental health or providing resources and information on ways to nurture mental health. According to the blog, it means working mental health support into your company’s DNA.

6. Lead by example. If you want your sales reps to work sensible hours and take their full lunch break, make sure you do the same. And if you take mental health days to rest or recharge, let your team know you’re doing this. It will help normalize the importance of taking care of yourself.

7. Provide tailored support. Everyone experiences life differently and faces different challenges. That why there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to supporting mental health. The important thing is that your sales reps know that you are there to support them, whether that means creating mental health support groups, providing mentoring or holding debriefing sessions after difficult projects or tasks.

When your employees feel healthy physically and mentally, they can do their best work. Look for ways to support their mental health, from making their wellness a top priority to understanding what may cause them the most stress. By focusing on your employees’ full well-being, you will help create a lasting positive impact.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

Source: The Timely blog. Timely is an AI-based tracking and planning tool.