Fostering Transparency: Unlocking Honesty in the Workplace

 

The reasons are multifaceted - fear of being fired, harshly judged by managers and colleagues, or facing negative performance reviews. Additionally, it's often easier to spot mental health concerns in others rather than in ourselves. It’s rather like the fuel in your car’s petrol tank, whilst it’s still half empty, there’s no concern, only when the redlight indicator come’s on, do you start to worry about where the next petrol station is and whether you can make it before the fuel runs out! 

 

While physical ailments are more readily acknowledged and accepted, the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges can be more complex to identify and communicate. Recent data indicates that one in five employees in the UK have not disclosed a mental health issue to their employer due to concerns about potential negative consequences. Additionally, poor mental health was the most common health condition experienced by workers over the past two years. 

 

How do organisations therefore build a culture and environment that actively encourages everyone, Directors, Managers and Staff, to talk openly about their mental health, such as anxiety and depression in the same way they’d refer to a broken leg or other physical illness. 

 

An organisational culture is built on a set of shared core values and beliefs, from the top down and reinforced, particularly by the behaviour and actions of Directors and Managers. This is also supported by the strategy and structure of the company. 

 

Is one of the keys therefore as simple as proactively encouraging vulnerability? Something that is defined by Brene Brown* as not being a weakness, rather about emotional risk, exposure and uncertainty, all of which fuel our daily lives. Having the courage to be vulnerable seems to fly in the face of perceived wisdom that it opens us up to the possibility of being attacked or hurt in some way, physically or emotionally. In reality, showing vulnerability can actually encourage more connection and compassion from those around us. 

 

 

 

Change doesn’t happen overnight, however a good place to start is to reflect on where your organisation is now and if it’s a long way from encouraging employees to be more open and honest, start with small actions that build trust and get the message across that your mental health is just as important as your physical health.