Leadership – support leaders to support wellbeing

The way leaders treat their staff can have a big impact on wellbeing at work. Leadership styles that focus on control, micromanagement and top-down decision making can leave staff feeling stressed, undervalued and disengaged. In contrast, leaders who recognise people’s strengths, involve them in decisions and support them to succeed can help create healthier and more positive workplaces.

Research shows that there is no single “best” leadership style for supporting wellbeing at work. This may be partly because every team is different, people have different needs and difference preferences for how they want to be managed. However, there are qualities which are consistently displayed by leaders who have a positive impact on wellbeing at work.

These qualities include being open and honest, approachable, supportive and aware of how their behaviour affects others. Leaders who demonstrate these qualities help staff feel valued, listened to and comfortable raising questions or concerns. This can help address challenges early, before they become bigger problems.

Building strong relationships is also an important part of good leadership. Working collaboratively, listening to staff and seeking their views can help people feel connected, supported and part of a team. As we explore in the ‘Relationships’ section, having supportive colleagues and leaders is a key part of wellbeing at work.

All of this gives an idea of what leaders can do to support the wellbeing of their staff. Being this kind of leader is not always easy though. Many people move into leadership roles because of their professional expertise without necessarily having had formal management training.

That’s why organisations need to support leaders as well as staff. Providing leaders with the right training, development opportunities and ongoing support can help them thrive in their role and create positive working environments that support wellbeing at work for everyone.

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