Most managers are drowning in new responsibilities while getting less support than ever. According to recent research, managers are 40% more likely to take on new duties and experience 2-3 times higher burnout than other employees. Yet the very people expected to support everyone else’s wellbeing often find themselves without support of their own.
In this episode, we’re joined by Jan Bruce, disruptor, entrepreneur and force for growth. Recognizing the science of resilience as the new essential for human and organizational capability, Jan co-founded meQuilibrium (meQ), the #1digital platform to deliver resilience at scale to workforces globally. In this episode, she shares insights from meQ’s latest research that explores key challenges your managers may be facing.
In this episode, we dive into why manager support is crucial for employee success, what happens when managers themselves don’t get support, and practical ways organizations can prioritize manager wellbeing without massive systemic changes. Jan also challenges the pushback against resilience training, explaining why building these skills is more immediate and effective than waiting for systemic change.
Whether you’re a leader looking to support your managers better or a manager seeking ways to build your own resilience, this conversation highlights the importance of making managers’ wellbeing a top priority.
Key Highlights
- Managers are 40% more likely to take on new responsibilities, leading to 2-3 times higher burnout and 4 times greater stress than other employees.
- When managers create psychologically safe environments, employees are 66% less likely to report workplace distress and incivility.
- Managers who feel supported by their own leaders are better equipped to create psychologically safe environments, which leads to increased innovation from their teams.
- Companies often train managers about available resources but fail to prioritize managers accessing these resources themselves.
- Managers need to take care of their own wellbeing before they can effectively support their teams.
- Research indicates 1 in 6 managers are currently struggling with anxiety or possible depression.
- Jan believes the key to managing workplace stress isn’t just about external factors like better systems or workspace improvements – it’s about building internal resilience and emotional intelligence skills.
Links Mentioned
https://www.linkedin.com/in/janbruce
https://www.youtube.com/@meQTV
White paper: https://go.mequilibrium.com/rs/553-GRV-433/images/meQ-Build-a-Better-Manager.pdf
Full Bio
Jan Bruce is a disruptor, entrepreneur and force for growth. Recognizing the science
of resilience as the new essential for human and organizational capability, Jan
co-founded meQuilibrium (meQ) the #1 digital platform to deliver resilience at scale
to workforces globally.