This year, Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 is dedicated to the theme of movement and its positive impact on our wellbeing.
At Ascensos, we believe in encouraging our team to stay active through various means, whether it’s taking breaks from screens, having walking meetings, or participating in our A-lympic challenges.
Empowering Wellbeing
But our commitment goes beyond just these activities. We strive to foster a workplace culture where everyone feels empowered to take charge of their own wellbeing, creating an everyday culture of wellness, not just during this special week.
And while we offer a variety of wellbeing-related benefits, regular online mental health awareness sessions, and a network of Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs) for our colleagues, we also recognise the unique challenges faced by our team managers, who are at the forefront of creating a safe and supportive environment for their teams.
Team managers are the backbone of our business. They navigate the complexities of human emotions, conflicts, and day-to-day challenges to keep our operation running smoothly.
And we understand all too well that the role of a team manager can be incredibly demanding, often taking a toll on their own mental health. Research by Ipsos has shown that managers are more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health condition than other employees.
At Ascensos, we believe that to create a truly supportive environment for all colleagues, we must prioritise the mental health of our Team Managers.
Daniel Laoudi, Management Development Trainer at Ascensos, is focused on doing exactly that.
The TMZone Community
From his dedicated online TM Zone, Daniel has created an internal community for managers across all our regions. Having once been a team manager himself, Daniel understands firsthand the unique challenges our team managers face on the front lines, managing not just tasks but also the emotional and psychological wellbeing of their team members.
He created this online space to focus on the development of our future leaders, offering actionable insights to help them navigate the complexities of leadership effectively, while at the same time creating a safe space where our team managers can access a range of mental health resources and courses that focus on stress management, managing emotions, and promoting health and wellbeing at work.
These resources are not just about providing information but also equipping team managers with practical tools they can use in their daily interactions.
And it’s more than just an online resource; it’s a support network where they can check in on each other, share experiences, and seek advice. The TM Zone is a community which gives our team managers the opportunity to discuss their challenges and learn from others who have faced similar situations.
Daniel Laoudi comments:
“Being able to offer assistance and tools tailored to the challenges our team managers face not only helps eliminate the stigma of mental health, but also fosters a culture of understanding at all levels of our business.
The positive impact of my support not only enhances our managers' mental health but also cultivates a more resilient and empathetic environment overall. We not only educate our managers on how to support their teams, but we are also a pillar for our managers to lean on when they need it.
It is truly rewarding to nurture both individual and collective wellbeing among our leaders.”
Collaborating with Industry Peers
Daniel also collaborates with various organisations, including a team of Specialist Wellness Counsellors in South Africa, who offer support and in-person debriefing sessions tailored for managers, and an external Team Leader Community, founded by Martin Teasdale, designed to support contact center team leaders in their development through peer-to-peer collaboration and learning.
Looking Forward
At Ascensos, we are dedicated to supporting our team managers, recognising the critical role they play in the wellbeing of our advisor community.
By providing them with the necessary resources, creating support networks, and fostering a culture of openness and compassion, we can ensure that our managers are not only able to support their teams effectively but also take care of their own mental health.
Together, we can build a healthier, more resilient organisation where everyone thrives.
