Mental Health Support, Health and Safety and Leadership: these are the skills that managers need to succeed
With 69% of employees revealing that their manager has more impact on their mental health than their therapist or their doctor, it’s vital that managers have the correct skills and training to ensure their staff are content in the workplace.
Whether you are a newly promoted manager or have years of experience, these four tips from Nick Higginson, CEO of Phoenix Health & Safety, will provide you with the necessary skills to create a safe working environment for your employees and upskill yourself in your respective industry.
1.Mental health training
According to the HSE, 8 million working people are suffering from a work-related illness, of which 914,000 workers suffer from work-related stress, depression or anxiety. A manager's role is to provide support for colleagues where appropriate including in the area of mental health.
Nick says: “Managers should be able to spot the signs if their colleagues are struggling and provide the necessary help to make sure they are being cared for. If you have an employee who is experiencing mental health problems, it’s important that you have the training to tackle this issue correctly.
“Those in management can take part in a NEBOSH Wellbeing Course so they are well equipped to deal with employee mental health. The benefits of taking a Wellbeing Course include increased productivity through enhanced employee engagement; reducing absence through well-being interventions; and demonstrating your commitment to the health of your employees with specially designed training.”
2.Leadership skills
Whether you’re managing people or projects, strong leadership is essential to maintain morale and ensure a project will be finished on time.
Nick says: “Leadership is an important skill for any manager to have as it helps them to motivate and inspire their team, as well as create an effective and productive work environment. Leadership also helps managers to build relationships with their team and foster a culture of collaboration and trust.
“Qualified leadership also allows managers to better assess and understand the needs of their team and make decisions that are in the best interest of the organization. It also helps managers develop leadership skills that can be applied to roles across all industries as well as building your confidence in directing others.”
3. Workplace Risk Assessment
With 565,000 working people sustaining an injury at work last year, it is essential for those in positions of responsibility to have the right expertise in identifying, evaluating, and controlling workplace risks to protect the workforce.
Nick recommends: “Managers have a duty to assess the effectiveness and performance of the health and safety systems in place across their organisation. To upgrade your management skills, consider partaking in an IOSH Managing Safely course, developed by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).
“Managers with a risk assessment accreditation can continue to hone their professional development, as well protect their colleagues and workplace from any risks.”
4. Workplace first aid
On average, 36.8 million working days were lost through workplace-related injuries in 2021/2022. Low-risk workplaces aren’t legally required to have an employee fully trained in legal first aid, but someone must be appointed to take charge of first aid in the workplace.
Nick adds: “Having a manager who is trained in first aid gives the company an extra layer of security, as they will be able to respond to medical emergencies quickly and effectively. And for the manager, this skill can be transferred to any industry and makes you.”
For more information on Health and Safety courses for managers, contact us or browse some of our courses today, such as IOSH Managing Safely.
References
1. Google search data for ‘burnout’ according to https://app.mangools.com/kwfinder/dashboard?language_id=0&location_id=0&query=burnout&source_id=0&sub_source_id=0
2. Employee stress levels at work, according to https://www.ciphr.com/workplace-stress-statistics/