Red Flags!

I hear from people leaders (and I hear it a lot) that they have a really good relationship with their team…

The conversation usually goes something like “we have a great relationship and can talk about anything”. “We hang out together, we go for a beer on Friday” or “We have lunch together regularly and anything can be talked about”.

There are two red flags around this.

Red Flag #1 is around being too close to your people that they may feel they would be letting down you, the leader, and the rest of the team, if they show themselves to be at less than optimal performance level. So they say nothing and try to plough on.

Red Flag #2 is around the idea that, because the expectation is there with the leader that they can talk about anything, if it doesn’t come up it doesn’t get talked about. If, as leaders, we don’t start a conversation about mental health, then it will never become a subject. Refer to Red Flag #1.

We cannot assume the team knows they can broach the subject with the leader. It has to be raised from the top. As Fred Rogers said ‘If you can mention it, you can manage it”.

Get in touch if you want to know more. I can help you in getting the ball rolling.