Tools for managers
Implementing needs - based problem solving
Source: Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace - Managing Mental Health Matters:
All emotions, thoughts and behaviours stem from needs. Most problems and conflicts in the workplace (and elsewhere) result from needs that are not satisfied.
- The first step is to identify the needs of the all parties.
- The second step is to creatively collaborate on possible strategies to ensure that the most important needs of all parties are met in a mutually agreeable way.
- The third step is to affirm the agreement, address any misunderstandings and discuss a process for handling the problems in the future, if necessary.
- The final step is to document the agreement, providing all parties with a copy. This approach is particularly effective when a staff member's concentration, perception or memory is compromised.
Commitment over compliance
Source: Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace - Managing Mental Health Matters:
Commitment over compliance may be an effective strategy for success that can be adopted by anyone who manages people, in particular those experiencing mental health issues. This approach is intended as an alternative to coming up with plans and solutions that we ask the employee to comply with, such as accommodation plans, return to work strategies or conflict resolution approaches, and instead asking the employee to actively engage in developing a plan, strategy or approach that they are willing and able to commit to over the long term.
This concept is about respecting an individual enough to help them commit to their own success and allowing them to lead the way by telling you how they can achieve that success.
Even when they have a mental illness?
Mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety-related disorders often erode self-confidence in even the most accomplished professional person. While these illnesses rarely take away any previously existing skill and talent for the job, they may make the person feel less competent. The healthcare system may in some cases also contribute to an employee's feelings of disempowerment.
During times of recovery or when the condition is manageable, it can be extremely helpful to give back a level of control and responsibility to the employee by involving them in committing to their own success and wellness at work. Time after time, this approach has been experienced by persons as a "breath of fresh air" or "a new lease on life" or "a fresh start" as they focus not on "what they cannot do", but rather on "what they can do". When we set up the dynamic of commitment, we help to empower the individual to think about the approaches that may work for them and to imagine their own success.
But I'm the boss
The first reaction to this concept may be that you are giving away your authority and responsibility, but this is not the intention. Your job is to manage the outcomes and objectives of the University. If the command and control model is working for you, then why would you change? The problem is that today, this method of leadership can often be problematic, especially when faced with emotional distress or mental health issues. There are emergency or life and death situations that demand command and control for safety and effectiveness, however it has limited value in the typical workplace.
What commitment over compliance does is recognize that while you need to ensure WHAT is accomplished, the individual who is doing the work may have a say in deciding HOW it is accomplished. Even heavily regulated processes that leave little room for choice can be subject to the commitment over compliance approach.
In many return to work or stay at work cases, it is the employee who has come up with innovative and effective ways to accomplish the tasks of their job, in spite of any disability.
Manage expectations
Of course it is necessary to collaborate and sometimes to coach in order to get at solutions that are acceptable for your work situation. Sometimes the offered solution is not acceptable, and you may need to redirect using the "Before You Say No, Ask Why?" approach.
If I do it for one, I will have to do it for everyone
You may be concerned that allowing employees to come up with their own approach may open a floodgate of requests by other employees wanting the same treatment. This is much less of an issue if you manage the approach so that it reduces the chance of putting anyone else at a disadvantage. This can be done by asking how co-workers will respond to the possible solution that is offered by the employee. One person who suggested that someone cover for them at the reception desk when they were upset responded that her co-workers were already really busy and would feel that this was unfair.
When asked what she could do about that, she thought for a moment and responded that since the people she would ask to cover for her hated filing, and she found filing soothing, she could do this for them while they were covering for her. This not only had the effect of helping the co-workers to see the solution as fair, but they eventually began to ask her if she didn't need a break because they had filing that needed to be done.
And what else?
When we are upset for any reason - in crisis, stressed out, or experiencing a mental health issue - our minds are less clear. For this reason, it is important to be patient and thorough when exploring what is needed to allow for successful completion of the work. The phrase "and what else…" can be helpful in letting the individual know that you are open to considering all of the possible solutions. In addition, in a state of emotional distress, what is top of mind may or may not be the most relevant or important factor in success. By digging deeper, we improve our chances at getting at the critical factors to success.
Restory or reframe
Many people recognize that negativity is a symptom of depression and anxiety-related disorders, but feel blocked or frustrated by the expression of these thoughts. Some use the approach of trying to apply logic to an emotional issue by arguing the "facts" as they see them or simply telling the distressed individual that they are wrong. As I am sure you can guess, this rarely works to improve the situation. By using a technique referred to as 'restorying' we can help to gently rephrase a situation in a way that offers some hope for moving beyond the problem or negativity.
For example, one person who continually talked about how everyone in the office was out to get her and hated her, was brought back to a time where this was not true. This was important so that she could imagine that time existing once again. She was then helped to see that maybe people had a wrong impression of her and that this could change. When we restoried from "everyone hates me" to the idea of changing people's minds about her, we were able to move forward to new approaches.
Recap
Commitment over compliance involves a specific skill set of helping people to arrive at their own solution for success at work. It takes patience and a mindset that can withstand not being in total control throughout the process. The payoff can be huge. It can include a solution that only the individual could have thought of or a solution that you could never have demanded in the first place due to issues of confidentiality, labour laws or some other boundary. It can free the individual to consider personal, health, family and workplace factors that impact their success and to commit to modifying any or all of these. It can allow them to imagine their own success and to work towards achieving it. And importantly, it helps them to realize that your support for their success is real.
Before you say no, ask why?
Source: Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace- Managing Mental Health Matters:
When we ask someone for their opinion or input and then tell them no, it may make them feel that their opinion never mattered to you anyway. Yet, it could be chaos if we simply said yes to every request made of us. There is a way to help meet needs without saying no. It involves an understanding that all requests or behaviours are actually an attempt to meet a need. Some needs are universal and include;
- Security
- Belonging
- Acceptance
- Recognition
- Autonomy
The challenge is that each person's satisfaction of these needs is different. For example, one person may have a strong need for autonomy. He or she may want you to give them a description of the outcomes you want and then be left to decide how to reach their objectives. Others find that this much latitude makes them feel insecure and would rather have very specific, step-by-step instructions on how each task should be carried out. Both are meeting needs, but they are doing it in different ways.
An alternative to no...
When an individual asks for something like the corner office with the window, rather than just telling them these are reserved for people with way more status than they have, you might ask them why they want the corner office. You may find that they have seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and require a minimum amount of sunlight to manage it. By not saying no, you are now able to find another way to help meet their underlying need such as the purchase of small full spectrum light box that would have the desired effect of keeping them healthier and productive.
Another example is when an individual says that they want to be transferred to another unit. If that is not something that is available (or even if it is) you may want to ask what they would change in their own unit if they could. Again, getting at the underlying need, rather than reacting to the request or simply saying no, allows further exploration of possible solutions. We often talk about the lack of value of moving people from unit to unit in an attempt to "solve" problems. If the problem was the individual's own coping strategies, it is very likely to resurface after a brief honeymoon period in the new unit. If the problem was the way the unit operates or interacts, it is very likely that it will show up with another individual when the first one is gone. In either case, the problem is not "solved"; it is just delayed or moved.
So...don't always say no, ask why and explore alternatives to help meet needs.