Many of us have battled mental health issues during the previous two and a half years. Also, we often do not have a toolbox to deal with sentiments like regrets. However, maintaining a healthy mind is a skill everyone can develop and hone, regardless of upbringing or circumstance. 

Dr. Bill Howatt, an expert on mental health in the workplace, is here with me for today's episode of the pursuit of learning podcast. He has studied and spoken extensively on the topic of how businesses should safeguard and promote employees' mental health on the job, earning him a reputation as a leading expert in the field internationally. Dr. Bill has spent over 30 years working in the mental health and psychological safety field. Moreover, he has vast clinical expertise due to his own struggles and eventual triumph over mental health issues. His approach to mental health is transparent, honest, and productive; also, he provides answers that are both well-tailored yet often overlooked in the workplace. 

Dr. Bill's  book "No Regrets" outlines the five things you can do right now to improve your mental fitness and be ready to face life's obstacles. Also, it provides the resources and guidance you need to construct a life you can enjoy.

[01:52] Introduction - Dr. Bill  provides an overview of his work and discusses how he has done a lot of work supporting people with mental illness and mental health issues.

[08:51] Mental Illness – Dr. Bill defines mental illness and discusses its connection to interpersonal competence.

[13:02] Employee Mental Health -  We talk through why most workplaces devote considerable resources to ensuring the physical well-being of their members, but far less attention is paid to the mental health of their employees. 

[23:06] Leadership - The future of work will require improved emotional health and emotional regulation from leaders. It will not be task-focused; Leaders must appreciate people and care about how they feel and perceive the world. 

[40:08] Regret – We explore the distinction between experiencing regret and living with regret, and we try to pin down a definition of regret.

[47:07]  Lifecycle of an Employee - If you're unhappy with your job, why are you still working there?

[01:05:32] Self-Protection -  By self-doubting ourselves, we are protecting ourselves by not setting expectations.  

[01:12:23] Negative Thought Audit – We discuss how people can examine unpleasant thoughts to stop accepting them.

[01:16:02] Hardwirings – Dr. Bill outlines what we can do to overcome the inherent biases rooted in our deeply held beliefs.

Resources:

Connect with Dr. Bill:

Website: billhowatt.com/

Howatt HR consulting: howatthr.com/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/howatthr/

Book by Dr. Bill:

No Regrets: How to Live Today for Tomorrow's Emotional Well-Being: goodreads.com/book/show/62917384-no-regrets?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=7UPXSyfDFy&rank=1

Mentioned in the Podbast:

Thinking, Fast and Slow: goodreads.com/book/show/11468377-thinking-fast-and-slow?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=Q3uhKVG3XE&rank=1

Trust and Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others: goodreads.com/book/show/58438525-trust-and-in