Gaining the Technology Leadership Edge

Why Your Best Employees Might Be on the Verge of Quitting


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About the Guest(s):

Sarah Harris


Sarah Harris is a licensed clinical social worker with over twenty years of experience, specializing in mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and trauma. She is renowned for her expertise in helping organizations cultivate workplace cultures that prioritize well-being. Through her workshops, keynotes, and individual coaching, Sarah assists leaders in integrating mental wellness into corporate environments. She is an advocate for creating healthy workplace cultures and offers counseling through her mental health clinic.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of "Gaining the Technology Leadership Edge," host Mike engages in an insightful conversation with Sarah Harris, a licensed clinical social worker. They explore the vital role mental health plays in the workplace, particularly in high-stress tech environments. Sarah emphasizes that creating a culture of well-being is not simply about prioritizing mental health but ingraining it into every aspect of the company's structure. The episode underscores how focusing on mental health can improve employee retention and productivity, challenging the traditional work-life balance paradigm with a fresh perspective on life balance.

Sarah highlights key indicators of burnout in the tech industry such as decreased productivity and increased isolation among employees. She discusses practical strategies for leaders to support their teams' mental health, from timing communication to allowing employees time to recharge. The discussion also touches on how aligning mental health initiatives with company goals can diminish stigma, fostering an environment of openness. Sarah provides actionable advice for tech companies eager to integrate well-being into their culture, emphasizing that true mental health support goes beyond mere policy and requires genuine human connection.

Key Takeaways:

  • Emphasizing mental health as part of company culture enhances employee retention and productivity, moving beyond the traditional work-life balance to a more holistic life balance approach.

  • Recognizing signs of burnout, such as decreased productivity and collaboration, is crucial for timely intervention and support.

  • Effective leadership involves understanding and respecting employees' off-time, using strategies like scheduled email sends to minimize stress.

  • Building mental health awareness requires leadership to model and discuss their own self-care practices openly.

  • Providing comprehensive EAP services with adequate sessions is essential for genuinely supporting employees' mental health needs.

  • Notable Quotes:

    1. "Your culture is the wellness. It's not an integrated part of culture, but wellness is the culture." - Sarah Harris

    2. "The perfect mental health day is the day where whatever it is that you are doing allows you to totally disconnect from work." - Sarah Harris

    3. "If your employee has left, whether they are working remotely or in the office, if they are clocked out, leave them alone." - Sarah Harris

    4. "I have yet to meet a single person who is able to read an email from their boss and then just wait and not think about it till tomorrow." - Sarah Harris

    5. "When we are not taking good care of the mental health of our employees and our retention rates are low, they come to me with three EAP sessions… I'm sorry, it doesn't work like that at all." - Sarah Harris

    6. Resources:

      • Sarah Harris's website: sarahharrisspeaks.com

      • Connect with Sarah Harris on LinkedIn through her website.

      • Book mentioned: Ben Horowitz's "What You Do Is Who You Are"

      • Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) referenced for statistics on hiring costs in cybersecurity.

      • Tune in to the full episode to explore more about how integrating mental health into workplace culture can transform organizational dynamics. Stay connected for further episodes where we uncover more insights into technology leadership.

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        Gaining the Technology Leadership EdgeBy Mike Mahony