Mental health in the workplace is becoming less of a perk and more of a necessity, especially now as organizations continue to explore Return to Work strategies in the face of the pandemic. It’s tough to know where to start when there are so many variables to be conscious of.

Angelique Hamilton joins me today to share why mental wellbeing is becoming such a non-negotiable, it’s impact on productivity and your bottom line, and how employers and employees can work together to create more psychologically safe workplaces.

She also shares some key advice: Just start where you are. Listen to and advocate for your employees, and create a work culture within your organization that makes them want to be there. If you take care of your employees and ensure they feel valued and engaged, they will take care of your business.

Tune in for more!

About Angelique Hamilton:

Angelique Hamilton, MBA, is the Chief People Officer at Refresh Mental Health and CEO of the HR Chique Group Consultancy. Angelique has contributed to the development of world-class organizations for emerging small businesses, high-growth startups, and entrepreneurial ventures by incorporating innovative HR and diversity practices into their culture. Angelique has held key human resource positions in the health-care, nonprofit, and supply chain sectors, and she is a visionary committed to shaping the workplace of the future.

A graduate of Nova Southeastern University's Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Angelique holds a master's degree in business administration and a bachelor's degree in business management from Jacksonville University's Davis College of Business. Angelique is a native of Florida where she resides with her husband, Henry, and their three children, Arianna, Jared, and Jadyn.

Learn more about HR Chique Group Consultancy on LinkedIn and Facebook, and connect with Angelique on LinkedIn.

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Refresh Mental Health
• Join the monthly digital subscription
• Follow Mental Health In Minutes on Facebook

When it comes to stress, people leaders and HR professionals tend to face a higher propensity for burnout and overwhelm in the workplace, and they aren’t typically well equipped with how to handle it. Unfortunately, the pandemic has only exacerbated this problem.

Today’s guest has experienced these issues head on, and is here today to share tactics that leaders and HR professionals can use to get past that overwhelm and burnout in a healthy and productive way. Dr. Allessandria Polizzi teaches us her unique resiliency model and gives greater insight into what leadership can do to better support their employees in the face of adversity, build wellbeing, and prevent burnout.

We also discuss why these tactics are so important to psychological safety, and the positive consequences that valuing skills like resiliency can have within an organization. Tune in!

About Allessandria Polizzi:

Dr. Allessandria Polizzi is a Top 100 HR professional of 2020 and a 20-year HR professional, with experience leading teams across multiple industries to unlock the potential in people and help organizations thrive. Following a recovery from burnout and a depression diagnosis since 2021, Dr. Polizzi rebooted her consulting practice, Verdant Consulting, with a renewed focus on implementing the latest scientific resiliency, burnout prevention, and psychological safety research to help people, teams, and organizations learn practical, simple skills that will help them flourish. She offers training programs and organizational consulting services designed around neuroscience, cognitive behavior therapy, and the ISO 45003.

She is also cofounder of the Kite HR Wellbeing app for HR professionals and shares of-the-moment discoveries on all of these topics via the Be Verdant podcast.

To learn more, visit her website and connect with her on LinkedIn.

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Building Resilience in HR Professional with Kris Tierney
• Compassion and Mindfulness at Work with Scott Shute
• Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski
• HR Wellbeing Week
• Kite HR
• Get all the information we talked about, plus YOUR financial risk calculator
• Join the monthly digital subscription
• Follow Mental Health In Minutes on Facebook

Inclusivity and accessibility often get overlooked in the workplace, but not always for a lack of trying. Guidelines and training can be inconsistent, and despite any good intentions, leaders may find themselves wondering what the best practices are for creating accessible workplaces.

Today Erin Perkins, disabled rights activist and accessibility educator, joins me to share how organizations can build a more inclusive foundation within their organizations and how accessibility can really benefit everyone. She answers many common questions leaders may ask in regards to workplace accessibility, and teaches some tactics that organizations can use to better support employees needs—from recruitment to hiring, all the way through the employment journey.

Tune in to our conversation and learn simple ways to become a more accommodating and psychologically safe environment for all of your employees.

About Erin Perkins:

Erin Perkins is a deafblind entrepreneur, disabled rights activist, and accessibility educator dedicated to making the business world more inclusive. Her fierce advocacy comes from her life experiences as a deaf woman and owner of a small online business, Mabely Q. 

Though she founded Mabely Q in 2018 as a graphic designer and online business manager, Erin’s true gift is working with CEOs who want to lead by example. Whether she’s teaching via a keynote speech, private workshop, or one-on-one consulting, Erin freely shares her experiences as a deaf woman with others to help make the world a more inclusive place for others with disabilities.

To learn more, check out Erin’s website or connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Mentioned In this Episode:

• Join the monthly digital subscription
• Follow Mental Health In Minutes on Facebook

As the climate around mental health at work continues to evolve, one thing is clear: These conversations are becoming non-negotiable in workplaces around the globe.And while simply having these conversations is a step in the right direction, it’s important to ensure that the conversation are constructive and impactful in a positive way.

Today, Melissa Doman joins me to share her expertise on this topic and discuss some of the major themes in her book that really resonated with me. We hit several different points on having constructive mental health conversations at work, including how we can develop the skill set to have these conversations, the science behind why we should, counterproductive mental health at work trends, what not to do, and more. 

Improving mental health at work is a shared responsibility for the benefit of our collective wellness. Whether you are in a leadership position or not, tune in and get practical tips on taking action within your organization.

About Melissa Doman:

Melissa Doman is an Organizational Psychologist, Former Clinical Mental Health Therapist, and author who specializes in mental health at work. Melissa works with international, national, and local organizations and Fortune 500 companies across industries and across the globe – including clients like Salesforce, Siemens, Estée Lauder, and Janssen. She has also been featured in the BBC and CNBC about the mental health aspects of the Great Resignation. She also has an international perspective on her work as she’s lived abroad in South Korea, Australia, and England and traveled to 45+ countries. Mel has one core goal: to equip companies, individuals, and leaders to have constructive conversations about mental health in the workplace. Her book just came out in October, with the specific goal of doing just that.

To learn more, you can visit her website and connect with her on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Yes, You Can Talk About Mental Health at Work by Melissa Doman
• Follow Mental Health In Minutes on Facebook
• Join the monthly digital subscription

HR professionals have had a unique experience through the pandemic, and for the most part it has gone unrecognized. They’ve been stuck in the middle, pulled in opposing directions by the organizations they serve and the people they work with. It has taken its toll on their mental and emotional health as they try to navigate their way through the changes.

But it shouldn’t rest all on their shoulders. Kris Tierney joins me today to discuss how organizations can better support the mental and emotional health of HR professionals, and how HR professionals can effectively communicate with and support their teams during the pandemic. We talk about the shared responsibility we all have to participate in our organizations, and Kris gives us advice on how we can do that with compassion and empathy for each other as humans.

It’s important to remember that our HR professionals are just like us—human. Let’s do what we can to better support them and build up their resilience as we continue to face the effects of the pandemic. Tune in.

About Kris Tierney:

Kris Tierney is the Vice-President of Human Resources and Learning at the Human Resources Professionals Association where she provides strategic leadership to the Association’s internal human resources practices, as well as leading professional development and learning programming for the HRPA’s more than 24,000 students and members.

Kris is a passionate HR and business executive who believes that outstanding businesses run on outstanding workplaces where people and culture are strategic priorities. Kris spent more than 15 years’ leading HR and strategic talent programs in high growth, hi-tech companies in automotive and financial services where she served as a trusted people and culture strategist, advisor and business partner to the C-Suite.

Known for her easy and approachable style, she thrives when helping others live their lives with purpose, belonging and value. Kris holds the CHRP and CHRL designations awarded by the Human Resources Professionals Association.

To learn more about Kris, you can connect with her on LinkedIn.

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Follow Mental Health In Minutes on Facebook
• Join the monthly digital subscription

When you think of the social impact sector, you probably imagine that it is a kinder, gentler place than the traditional corporate world. But surprisingly, it might actually face more systemic issues and challenges, causing people to leave that sector in high rates.

Maryann Kerr has spent many years working in the social impact sector, and during this time she has seen and experienced her fair share of bullying, unsafe workplaces, toxic work environments, and fatigue. She joins me on the podcast today to share more about these challenges, and gives solutions that leadership can use to engage senior leadership and create a more psychologically safe workplace culture within the sector.

Whether you are a leader in the social impact sector or the traditional corporate world, the way you treat your employees is a reflection of your values. It’s time to acknowledge and take ownership of the issues our employees are experiencing.

Tune in.

About Maryann Kerr:

Maryann Kerr is Chief Happiness Officer, and CEO with the Medalist Group. Maryann has worked in the social profit sector for 34 years and helped raise over $110M for small to mid-sized organizations.  She has led at the local, provincial, national and international level and is passionate about her family, feminism, and continuous learning.

As a governance, leadership and culture specialist, Maryann knows successful organizations create and nurture a climate where everyone understands their role; politics are minimal; engagement is high and turnover low. Environments where employees co-create the roadmap to mission delivery. Compassion, kindness, and a deep commitment to collaborative and productive workplaces are core to her work. 

Maryann has participated on many social profit boards and committees and her first book Tarnished: Let’s rethink, reimagine and co-create a new social impact sector was published by Civil Sector Press in 2021. Maryann earned her master’s in organizational leadership.

To learn more, you can visit her website and connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Tarnished by Maryann Kerr
• The Leadership Challenge by Barry Posner and James Kouzes
• Follow Mental Health In Minutes on Facebook
• Join the monthly digital subscription

Do you understand what burnout really is?

Burnout is a symptom of chronic stress, and it’s a growing problem globally. As organizations, employers, and leaders, we have a responsibility and an obligation to our employees to prioritize their wellbeing. And not only is it a responsibility to our employees and ourselves, but to the overall success and wellbeing of our organizations.

As employees globally continue to increase their expectations surrounding mental health in the workplace, it’s important for organizations and people leaders to work together to create sustainable practices that can support that. Jennifer Moss joins the podcast today to talk about how we can make this happen in really actionable ways, and sheds some light on why burnout is so prevalent in the world right now.

Listen in and help stop the slide into burnout.

About Jennifer Moss:

Jennifer Moss is an award-winning journalist, author and international public speaker. She is a nationally syndicated radio columnist and writes for Harvard Business Review. 

Her first book, Unlocking Happiness at Work, received the distinguished UK Business Book of the Year Award. Jennifer was named a Canadian Innovator of the Year, an International Female Entrepreneur of the Year, and recipient of the Public Service Award from the Office of President Obama. 

Her new book, The Burnout Epidemic, published by Harvard Business Press, is now available.

To learn more, visit Jennifer’s website, or connect with her on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.

Mentioned In This Episode:

• The Burnout Epidemic by Jennifer Moss
• Join the digital subscription
• Follow Mental Health In Minutes on Facebook

We know that stress has negative physical effects on the body and eventually leads to burnout, so typically we try to find ways to help our teams manage their stress. But these stress management techniques are only part of the solution.

In order to effectively reduce stress, prevent burnout, and actually increase motivation in the workplace, we need to get to the root cause of the energy drain.

Dr. Nicole Tschierske joins me today to talk about how we can find the root cause of stress for our people, and minor changes that leaders can make in the workplace in order to better support our teams. She gives actionable advice on how to get started, and how to start conversations in order to get senior leadership support and alignment on these changes.

By reducing stress and increasing motivation in our organizations, we can better protect both ourselves and our employees 𑁋 physically, mentally, and emotionally. Tune in to get started.

About Dr. Nicole Tschierske:

Dr. Nicole Tschierske is a scientist and positive psychology coach who helps individuals and teams in STEM do their best work. She works with her clients to build remarkable partnerships in their organisation so their work gets the momentum and recognition it deserves. Nicole also helps construct ways of working that reduce stress and increase motivation and engagement.

Nicole lives in Hamburg, Germany, holds a PhD in chemistry and is trained in coaching, positive psychology, change management, and advanced problem-solving. When she’s not buried in research papers and books you can find her taking long hikes in the German countryside or mesmerised by Mary Poppins on the screen.

To learn more, you can visit her website and connect with her on LinkedIn.

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Job Demands Resource Model
• Nicole’s website
• Join the monthly digital subscription
• Follow Mental Health In Minutes on Facebook

Let’s face it, leadership is hard.

Leadership roles typically come with a heightened sense of fear of failure and lowered senses of optimism and empowerment. And while most leadership development courses and strategies do a great job at increasing effective leadership skills, they don’t really teach what you need to feel happy and hopeful about your role as a people leader.

Today, Brett Elmgren is here to encourage you to seek the support you need to find joy and optimism in your work again. In our conversation, Brett identifies several common challenges leaders face that conflict with a sense of joy in their roles, and some strategies they can use to regain a sense of empowerment and optimism in their careers.

Listen in to learn how you can actually enjoy your work again while simultaneously creating a remarkable work culture for those you lead.

About Brett Elmgren:

Brett Elmgren is the President and Founder of Axom Leadership Inc. His work focuses on supporting leaders to find personal empowerment to drive transformational change. Brett is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources with nearly two decades of professional HR experience working for large publicly traded organizations. 

Most recently Brett Elmgren held the position of Director of Talent Development for Nutrien, and was responsible for leading the global leadership development strategy for over 25,000 employees. He played a senior HR leadership role in bringing together the merger between PotashCorp and Agrium resulting in the creation of Nutrien.  Brett holds a Master’s Degree in Leadership from Royal Roads University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Saskatchewan.

To learn more, you can visit his website and connect with him on Linkedin and Instagram.

Mentioned In This Episode:

• The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor
• Shawn Achor: The Happy Secret to Better Work
• Brené Brown
• Dr. Tasha Eurich
• Axom Leadership
• Follow Mental Health In Minutes on Facebook
• Join the monthly subscription

Have you ever taken an improv class and played the game “Yes, and”? If you haven’t, the basis is that you build off of each other’s stories and energies to tell fantastic tales and create crazy scenes.

Michael Vargas joins me on the podcast today to discuss how the basis of this fun, and sometimes silly, improv game can help create connections and strengthen your team relationships in the workplace. By sharing your experiences, flaws, and personal stories, you can engage with your people in an easy, comfortable way.

During our conversation, Michael shares simple examples and tactical advice on how you can use storytelling to build a safe space for your employees, and emphasizes the importance of honesty and vulnerability in your communications. And, if you're afraid to jump into the deep end, he also gives practical tips on getting started that won’t overwhelm you.

Tune in to our conversation to learn from his expertise!

About Michael Vargas:

Michael is an international facilitator with nearly 10 years of experience.  Utilizing his Master in Clinical Psychology, improv, and design thinking background, Michael facilitates workshops and speaks to organizations on developing collaborative and productive team cultures. He supports teams to solve big problems in a way that is psychological safe, builds trust, and uses open communication.  

He has worked with a variety of organizations like Dropbox, Salesforce, Kaiser Permanente, ACLU of San Diego, Evergreen Middle School, the County of San Diego, and many more.

To learn more, visit his website and connect with Michael on LinkedIn.

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Lead By Impact
• Psychological Safety Infographic
• Like Mental Health In Minutes on Facebook
• Join the monthly subscription