The well-being wake-up call for everyone

Keywords: mentalhealth, organisationalresponsibility, personalaccountability, thriving

Date: 22 April 2025, WorkLife Digital

Recent Gallup research highlights that, despite an increasing organisational awareness of the importance of mental health, many employees still struggle with burnout, disengagement, and a lack of meaning in their work. But while businesses and their leaders must be accountable for creating supportive, positive environments (building a culture of respect, offering the right resources, and leading with empathy and transparency), the responsibility doesn’t end there. Every person in the organisation, regardless of role, has a part to play in shaping a culture where wellbeing thrives – via personal accountability, behaving with respect, seeking support when needed, and actively working on their own mental health initiatives. Sustainable transformation also begins from the inside out rather than only waiting for external changes to dictate our experience.

Transformative behaviour: A shared responsibility

While there’s no doubt that mental health and wellbeing can be improved by developing appropriate organisational strategies, policies and programs, transformative behaviour requires a mindset shift at every level:

Self-awareness: Recognise your own stress responses and triggers. Be honest about what you need to feel balanced and resilient.
Empathy and support: Look out for colleagues who may be struggling. Small acts of empathy - listening, checking in, offering help - create ripples of positive change.
Open communication: Share your challenges and successes. Normalise conversations about mental health and wellbeing, reducing stigma and building trust.
Continuous learning: Be willing to adapt, experiment, and learn from setbacks. Encourage others to do the same, fostering a growth mindset across the organisation.

Lessons from Amy Gallo: Navigating relationships at work

Amy Gallo’s 2022 book, Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People), offers really insightful and practical guidance for everyone - not just leaders - on building better workplace relationships. Gallo emphasises that work relationships are a primary driver of fulfilment and resilience. Her advice is universally relevant:

Focus on what you can control: You can’t change others, but you can choose your reactions, mindset, and behaviours.
Avoid “us vs. them” thinking: See conflicts as shared problems to solve, not battles to win.
Practice empathy: Seek to understand the motivations behind others’ behaviours, especially when they seem difficult.
Stay curious: Approach challenges with a learning mindset, experimenting with new responses and seeking feedback.

By applying these principles, every employee can contribute to a healthier, more collaborative work environment.

Transformational thinking: Beyond traditional leadership

While transformational leadership has been shown to boost employee well-being and engagement, its core behaviours - such as inspiring others, providing individualised support, and encouraging new ways of thinking - are not exclusive to those in formal leadership roles. In fact, organisations thrive when these qualities are embraced by all:

Respect others: Even if you have different viewpoints, values or approaches, listening and respecting others is key and can be a growth opportunity by learning from other ways of thinking. You can still disagree but it can be useful to understand others’ opinions.
Be a role model: Demonstrate positive behaviours, such as work-life balance and ethical decision-making, that others can emulate.
Coach and support peers: Help colleagues find their own solutions to challenges, fostering inclusion and personal growth.
Challenge the status quo: Encourage creative problem-solving and intellectual stimulation, regardless of your position.
Promote inclusion: Value diverse perspectives and create space for everyone to contribute, enhancing engagement and well-being.

Building a supportive environment together

Transformative change is sustained when everyone takes ownership of their impact on workplace culture. The future of work demands that we all become champions of well-being - regardless of title or tenure. Transformative behaviour and thinking are not the sole responsibility of leaders, they are the collective responsibility of every employee, manager, and team member. By embracing self-awareness, empathy, and open communication, we can create workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Free WorkLife Digital mental health assessment

If you’re ready to take action on your mental health journey, we invite you to take the WorkLife Quotient (WL-Q) survey for free. This confidential tool helps you identify your own mental health risk areas and provides tailored recommendations for personal initiatives you can implement to support and improve your mental health at work and beyond.

WorkLife Digital is a global mental-wellbeing consultancy driven by the mission to improve the sustainability of businesses. Our psychological wellbeing tool, Worklife Quotient (WL-Q), is modelled on cutting-edge scientific research and provides organisation-wide measurement and intelligence on the mental wellbeing levels and psychological resilience of staff. WL-Q also assesses the impact of organisational practices (i.e. people and culture, leadership styles, organisational purpose and values, social impact) that have a direct influence on staff wellbeing and provides strategic recommendations on addressing risks and promoting strengths.

For more information, get in touch at lisa@worklife.digital

REFERENCES

Gallup: The Post-Pandemic Workplace: The Experiment Continues. March 2025 https://www.gallup.com/workplace/657629/post-pandemic-workplace-experiment-continues

The inside-out revolution transforming workplace wellbeing by leading yourself first. April 2025
https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescoachescouncil/2025/04/14/the-inside-out-revolution-transforming-workplace-well-being-by-leading-yourself-first/

Gallo, A. Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People). 2022