SYSTEMS CHANGE

As with other popular causes – LGBTQIA+ rights, environmentalism – the issue of mental wellbeing has been conspicuously taken up by businesses over the last two years. Careers can be sources of immense satisfaction as well as huge stress; as such, it is crucial that those overseeing them take steps to cultivate sensitive and sustainable company cultures rather than simply paying lip service to those responsibilities. Part of that push begins with education – perhaps raising awareness among employees about reasonable workplace expectations, or offering resources to help with burnout – but invoking ‘education’ mustn’t use personal autonomy to eclipse corporate responsibility, foisting systemic failings onto individuals caught within them.

“The education that we’re increasingly doing is through storytelling to our people, bringing to life our values through examples and case studies. It’s a question of bringing people on a journey with you so that you create a culture and mindset, that hopefully connects to the organisation and leaves you in a good position when a crisis happens. Then, if you need to comment on something, you’ve laid the foundation rather than poking your head up and coming out with something that feels random.”

Fiona Robinson, Deloitte

Emerging from both conversations, the ‘how’ as well as the ‘what’ of management came into question. Flexible leadership that can weather the storm of error has the deepest roots – vulnerability might seem inherently risky, but it needn’t undermine authority. On the contrary, it takes courage and humility to admit a mistake and act accordingly: leadership with community rather than individual reputation in mind.

“There isn’t a lot of respect for education or educators, especially in the USA]. A lot of my job is trying to explain what is important when it comes to training and supporting individuals so that they can support their dependents, so that they can improve their lives. I educate the organisations that come to us.”

Kelly Cassaro, Generation