Building emotionally healthy teams delivers bottom-line results

The conversation around mental health has been gaining traction among employers and benefits teams in recent years, especially in light of the pervasive impacts of the global pandemic on workplace culture and work-life balance. But now with a recession looming, new COVID-19 variants, and the undercurrent of quiet quitting adding to the escalation of burnout, it is clear that more needs to be done. HR and benefits leaders need to take the conversation a step further by introducing the concept of emotional health to their benefits landscape if they want to keep their benefits package up to date.

More than 87% of individuals think that their employer should do more to support their emotional and mental health, and 57% of Gen Z employees state they are more likely to stay with a company that provides mental health support. Emotional health is inherently connected to mental health and plays a critical role in the overall wellbeing of individuals. It can also contribute to positive team culture and better performance. Emotionally healthy teams build environments of trust and collaboration, which create the conditions for employee satisfaction, retention, and ongoing business results. In contrast, emotionally unhealthy individuals and teams pave the way for conflict, churn, burnout, and attrition.

Many company leaders are not well-versed in the language around emotional health in the workplace. There tends to be more focus on “what” gets done and less on “how” the work is accomplished, though it is clear that companies that focus on trust, collaboration, and building positive culture see better bottom-line results.

How well teams manage and respond to their emotions can make or break team culture and create ripple effects, either positive or negative. The fact is everyone experiences emotions – from the excitement of a new career opportunity to feelings of anxiety before a high-stakes meeting, or even feelings of frustration related to feedback from a manager – they are an undeniable part of daily life. But how a person internalizes and react to those emotions can have wildly different outcomes for their mental and emotional health and for their relationships with coworkers.

So, how can business leaders create a culture of working through these ups and downs with emotional maturity/? Creating awareness around emotional regulation and giving access to the following practices is a great way to jumpstart a supportive culture focused on emotional wellbeing.

• Offer mindfulness practices: Emotional regulation starts with self-awareness. When we can recognize feelings and sense the state of our nervous systems, we can intervene with methods and practices to regulate emotions, allowing us to act from a place of centeredness and purpose rather than reactivity. The term mindfulness has been used to refer to a psychological state of awareness, and the benefits of practicing mindfulness include reduced stress, boosted working memory, improved focus, and decreased emotional reactivity. A mindfulness coach can help employees release stress and develop coping skills to better handle daily challenges through breathing practices to calm their nervous system and release anxiety, meditation exercises to focus their mind, or reframing techniques that help release limiting beliefs. These tools, among others, can be applied in personal and professional settings when challenges arise.
• Teach nervous system regulation: Our emotions tend to reflect the present state of our autonomic nervous system, according to Porges’ Polyvagal Theory. The three primary states are commonly referred to as fight-or-flight, freeze or shutdown, and safety and connection (our desired state). Training our systems to be able to return from dysregulated states back to safety can decrease emotional reactivity, reduce stress hormones in the body, and even improve long-term health. Practices like breathwork, somatic stretching, self-hypnosis, EFT tapping, and hot/cold exposure are effective tools for bringing the nervous system into safety and balance.
• Encourage movement breaks: Shifting emotional states and resetting the nervous system can be accomplished through movement. Encouraging employees to take quick stretch breaks between meetings or take a walking meeting can do wonders in releasing stress and coming back into emotional regulation and focus. Jumping up and down or physically shaking the body can quickly release tension and stress.
• Host communication workshops: There are a variety of communication and team-building exercises and personality assessments that can help teams better understand each other. Beyond the well-known Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®, there are other insightful assessments like CliftonStrengths, Enneagram, and DiSC assessment. These exercises help teams understand the individual needs, styles, and strengths of their teammates, which helps build empathy and improve working relationships.
• Sponsor offsite team bonding: Create opportunities for people to get to know each other outside of work through activities that foster collaboration and communication in a low-stakes environment. Teams can take a yoga or spin class, try an escape room, or participate in a cooking class together. Trying something new and getting out of our comfort zones not only releases stress, but also creates space for growth and new perspectives.

The benefits of emotional health in the workplace

• More motivated: Emotionally healthy team members are more likely to inspire and motivate their teams toward a shared mission. They build trust through emotional consistency and harness positive emotions like joy, curiosity, and empowerment to steer teams to achieve their goals.
• Improved productivity: When employees are emotionally healthy, they are more likely to be productive, focused, and engaged in their work. They are better equipped to handle stress and handle challenges in a healthy and effective manner.
• Better relationships: Emotional health also plays a critical role in building and maintaining positive relationships with colleagues, supervisors, and clients. When employees are emotionally balanced, they are more likely to communicate effectively, work collaboratively, and resolve conflicts in a healthy way.
• Enhanced work satisfaction: Emotionally healthy employees are also more likely to experience higher levels of job satisfaction. They feel valued and appreciated, and they take pride in their work. This leads to higher morale, motivation, and a sense of purpose.
• Reduced Stress: A key benefit of emotional health in the workplace is that it can help reduce stress levels. When employees are equipped to manage their feelings and emotions, they are better able to cope with stressful situations and avoid burnout.

Related: Workplace mental health: 5 ways to support employee wellness, boost retention

By promoting emotional health in the workplace, employers can improve productivity, build better relationships, enhance work satisfaction, reduce stress, and improve physical health, all while enjoying a more positive work environment.

Tegan Bukowski is the Co-founder and CEO of WellSet, the first self-care digital holistic health studio to offer live and on-demand classes in 20+ holistic health practices.