How Management Practices Impact Employee Mental Health

Bad managers create anxiety, self-doubt, and burnout. Great ones build confidence, resilience, and growth. Research shows their impact on your mental health rivals that of your closest relationships: Manager: 69% Spouse/Partner: 69% Doctor: 51% Therapist: 41% Having a good boss can literally change your life. Here's what research shows about managers who actually improve lives: 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗽𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 ☑ You can speak up without fear of retaliation ☑ Mistakes are seen as learning opportunities 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 ☑ They connect you with stretch assignments because they want to see you grow ☑ They advocate for your promotion, even if it means losing you 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 ☑ They notice burnout signs before it’s too late and take action to dial back ☑ They flex their communication to meet your style 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 ☑ Setting clear expectations to reduce anxiety ☑ Giving regular feedback that helps you grow 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 ☑ No evening emails that need response right away ☑ They help you check out while on vacation Good managers don’t just improve job satisfaction, they improve your relationship with work itself. 👉 And, this is a call to all managers to keep improving your leadership skills. You matter more than you might think. P.S. What’s one trait you’ve seen in a truly great manager? Tag them here! ♻️ Repost to celebrate all the great leaders out there who make a difference! Follow me, Jill Avey for daily leadership insights Research: The Workforce Institute at UKG (landmark study surveying 3,400 employees and managers across 10 countries)

People don’t leave companies, they leave the managers who make them feel unsafe. Every Monday, Ron sat in his car, staring at the office building with a pit in his stomach. He used to love his job, he was a creative marketer full of ideas and energy. But that was before his new manager arrived. This manager didn’t lead, he commanded. Feedback came as criticism, ideas were shot down, and mistakes were met with public embarrassment. Slowly, the once vibrant team fell silent. Ron began to second-guess himself. He couldn’t sleep, lost motivation, and dreaded Sunday nights. Not because of the work, but because of the way it was managed. His therapist called it workplace anxiety. But Ron didn’t need a diagnosis to know something was off. He just didn’t feel safe at work. Here’s the truth: a bad manager can impact your mental health more than your doctor or therapist ever could. Leadership isn’t just about KPIs or deadlines, it’s about the environment you create every day. Authoritarian leadership might get short-term results, but it drains creativity, trust, and well-being. It creates workplaces where people survive, not thrive. Now imagine if Ron’s manager had led with empathy, encouraged dialogue, and made room for mistakes. That same team could have been a hub of innovation and growth. Mental health doesn’t just live in therapy rooms, it lives in team meetings, emails, and one-on-one conversations. It lives in whether people feel valued, heard, and safe. Ron’s story is a wake-up call. Leadership isn’t just a role, it’s a responsibility. If you care about results, start by caring about people. Follow Makarand Utpat for more such tips on leadership, personal branding and digital marketing. #leadership #KPIs #empathy #mentalhealth #manager #boss #employee

Your manager is either your mental health's greatest ally or its worst enemy, there's rarely an in-between. Yeah, that person you see almost every day at work. The truth? The person who might have the biggest impact on your mental health isn't your therapist or your doctor – it's your manager. I've seen this play out countless times: → A friend who'd sit in her car taking deep breaths before entering the office because she never knew which version of her boss she'd get → A colleague who couldn't enjoy weekends because work emails would arrive at 11 PM with expectations for immediate responses → A teammate who went from confident professional to self-doubting wreck under poor management Think about it – who has more power to affect how you feel? The therapist you see once a week? Or the person who controls your daily work life, influences your paycheck, can make or break your career, and sets the vibe for 40+ hours of your week? Good managers understand this responsibility. They: 1. Listen first, direct second 2. Accommodate work styles when possible 3. Check in on team members' wellbeing 4. Normalize mental health discussions 5. Create psychological safety Bad managers do the opposite, often without realizing the damage they cause. A good manager is like a good dance partner – they lead without stepping on your toes, make you feel secure enough to try new moves, help you recover gracefully when you stumble, and make the whole experience way more fun. If you're a manager reading this: Your team's mental health is partly in your hands. How will you use that power today? If you're an employee: How has your manager impacted your mental wellbeing? Positive or negative? ✍️ Your insights can make a difference! ♻️ Share this post if it speaks to you, and follow me for more.