How to lead with empathy without burning out

World Mental Health Day is a reminder that we all have mental health and supporting it isn’t optional, it’s essential. As leaders, colleagues, and humans, we can: • Check in, not just check up. • Make space for rest, not just productivity. • Listen without judgement. A psychologically safe workplace is a stronger workplace. Let’s make conversations about mental health something that happens every day, not just once a year. 💚 #WorldMentalHealthDay #Leadership #Wellbeing #PsychologicalSafety #MentalHealthMatters

It's no secret: leaders have a profound impact on their people. But with impact also comes responsibility. This #WorldMentalHealthDay, we asked our team: 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝? Their answers might surprise you—and hopefully inspire reflection. Let's keep the conversation going. 💬 Spread the message and share your thoughts with #IfOnlyLeadersKnew. Vlad Gheorghiu Konstantin Struck Ignacio Leonhardt 👩🏻🚀 Victoria Busse Alexander Laugomer Tiffany Cabasso Thomas Wagner Alice Pailhès Dr. Larissa Specht Timothy Elliott Natascha Katzwinkel

Leaders often talk about mental health support like it’s a program to roll out... an app, a day off, a wellbeing policy. But that’s not where the real impact happens. Supporting mental health starts with the basics: ☺️ Clarity: so people know what’s expected and don’t carry invisible pressure. ⚙️ Consistency: so they’re not guessing what kind of day they’re walking into. 🗣️ Communication: so small issues don’t become big ones. 🤗 Care: genuine interest, not performative empathy. Most burnout doesn’t come from overwork... it comes from uncertainty, inconsistency, and poor leadership hygiene. When leaders get the basics right, they build environments where people feel safe, focused, and valued. That’s what drives both wellbeing and performance. Because systems don’t fail — basics do. #backtobasics #mentalhealth #care #leadership #people

As a leader, I’ve learned that mental health isn’t just a personal matter, it’s a business one. Teams thrive when people feel supported, seen, and safe to be human. It’s World Mental Health Day, and while we talk a lot about performance, results, and growth, none of it is sustainable without wellbeing. I’ve had my own moments of burnout and overwhelm, and it’s taught me that vulnerability doesn’t weaken leadership it builds trust. So today, take a moment to check in with yourself and your people. Ask how they’re doing and really listen... Encourage rest. Model balance. Prioritise what actually matters. #worldmentalhealthday

Attention Leaders! Your influence goes far beyond strategy and numbers. How you talk about mental health sets the tone for your entire team. As World Mental Health Day (October 10) approaches, consider: 🗣️ Open conversations — normalize checking in and asking, “How are you, really?” 🛑 Model healthy boundaries — show that rest and self-care are signs of strength, not weakness. 🌱 Normalize support — therapy, coaching, and mental wellness resources aren’t “extras;” they’re essential. When leaders make space for mental health, it builds trust, resilience, and retention. It creates workplaces where people can thrive — not just survive. Let’s lead with compassion and awareness, not just this week but every day. #WorldMentalHealthDay #LeadershipMatters #MindfulImpact #MentalHealthAwareness #PsychologicalSafety

Workplace mental health issues don’t usually announce themselves with big drama. They whisper. - Shorter updates from the once vocal team member  - Quality dips in ways you can’t quite put your finger on  - Defaulting to “Whatever you think” instead of giving real input These subtle, easy-to-miss signals are signs your team may be running on empty. And by the time they’re obvious, it’s often too late. That’s why we’ve put together a guide to help leaders read the hidden cues, shift from managing tasks to coaching for resilience and build high-performing teams that last. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/g62ggNTB What’s one subtle sign you’ve noticed that signalled when a team member was overloaded before they said a word? #PeopleFirstLeadership #EmployeeWellbeing #WorkplaceCulture #ResilientTeams #ManagerTips #CoachingCulture #WorldMentalHealthDay

Mental health matters — in the workplace and beyond. 🧠 As leaders, we set the tone. Encouraging our teams to pause, reset, and ask for help when needed isn’t a weakness — it’s part of building a healthy, sustainable culture. 💚 Let’s keep normalizing open, supportive conversations around mental health. ✨ Real leadership includes empathy, understanding, and the courage to care.  #WorldMentalHealthDay #Leadership #MentalHealthAwareness #WorkplaceWellbeing #EmpatheticLeadership #HealthyWorkCulture #PeopleFirst #LeadershipMatters #EmployeeWellbeing #NormalizeTheConversation #WellbeingAtWork

Want to acknowledge #WorldMentalHealthDay2025 with your team but haven’t had time to prepare anything? Don’t worry - The Process will take care of it. Here are a few ideas you can use to open up dialogue in your team meeting, over lunch, or during a sharing session. These ideas will help your team: - Know that mental health is on the agenda - Build trust and relationships within the team - Create a safe space where vulnerability is normal, not something to hide A few simple ways #leaders can encourage dialogue around mental health today: Ask open questions: “What helps you recharge after a stressful week?” or “What’s one small thing that supports your wellbeing?” Share your own experiences - model openness by talking about what you do to manage your own mental health. Normalise check-ins - make quick wellbeing check-ins a regular part of meetings, not just a once-a-year topic. Celebrate openness - recognise when someone shares honestly, even if it’s small. It builds a culture of trust. Small conversations make a big difference. #WorldMentalHealthDay #Leadership #TeamCulture #WellbeingAtWork #PsychologicalSafety

Today is World Mental Health Day — and it’s a good reminder that even the most driven professionals need balance and reflection. In both the classroom and the corporate world, I’ve seen how intentional routines, check-ins, and small pauses can make a huge difference in productivity, focus, and overall wellbeing. Whether it’s a morning reflection, a quick team huddle, or simply a mindful pause before tackling a big project, these small habits create space to thrive. As someone transitioning from education into new professional spaces, I’ve realized that mental health isn’t just a personal priority — it’s a professional advantage. Taking care of ourselves enables us to lead better, think more clearly, and support others effectively. Today, I encourage you to pause, reflect, and think about one small mental health habit you can prioritize — for yourself and for the teams you work with. #WorldMentalHealthDay #Leadership #ProfessionalGrowth #Mindset #Wellbeing #WorkLifeBalance

Mental health is not a perk. It’s a priority. Whether you’re leading a team or running a business, mental wellness deserves just as much attention as performance metrics and bottom lines. Is your workplace a space where people feel safe to speak up? Do your leaders know how to recognize burnout before it takes hold? Are your benefits aligned with real mental health needs? Support doesn’t have to be complicated. It starts with listening, leading by example, and making sure the right resources are easy to find. Let’s keep showing up for each other. #MentalHealth #WorkplaceWellbeing #LeadershipMatters #PsychologicalSafety #PeopleFirst