It’s not lost on us that Louise and I feel a responsibility to effect change.
I’ve written articles about myself, my own struggles with mental health entirely due to circumstances I couldn’t control at work. I’ve written about completely changing career in my 40s along with what it’s like to start a new business. We’ve also written many articles about the change that we feel is necessary in organisations.
Louise and I have witnessed it for so long, a combined 50 years. I was an office junior nearly 30 years ago and I saw the same behaviours I was subjected to not so long ago.
What have I done to effect change?
First of all I say this in hindsight, because at the time, when you are living it, surviving it and thinking it’s ‘normal’ you feel trapped, immobilised and unable to do much.
I didn’t put up with being badly treated, I went through the right channels and even though those internal channels are not on your side as an employee, I feel I did the right thing, the only option I had at the time. I was honest, constructive and professional. I could have done more I think, looking back, but the power at the top severely outweighed that of the lower ranks, it would have achieved nothing.
I do believe that organisations who hide the poor treatment of successful and talented employees will eventually lose any reputation they have built as an employer.
The second thing I did was admit, on social media that I’d suffered. Those of you who know me well, know that this was a huge step for me. It felt like a weakness for so long afterwards, until I educated myself, then came the breakthrough.
What do I intend to do going forward?
That’s when I realised it has to start with leadership. If you are unaware of what’s happening in your organisation or believe that hiding poor treatment is the way to go, then you are at risk of constantly delivering sub optimal performance; for your customers and shareholders through unhappy constantly changing staff.
One thing I’m not going to do is keep going over and over everyday about how hard it was, re-telling my story over and over about how I suffered and how my family suffered as a result. I’m going to tell you about what I did to recover, and what I learned from the experience. I’m really lucky, I have a great family and special friends but all of that means nothing if you can’t admit it to yourself. The instant relief from acknowledging it is something I’ll never forget.
Louise and I will do everything we can to help organisations understand where change can make a difference to their own lives, that of their employees and importantly that of their business. We will show organisations that knowledge is power and that mental health education can provide a return on investment unlike any other. We will partner organisations to effect change that promotes overall health and sustains benefits.
