itSMF Bulletin July 2020 | Page 8

Keep an eye on your own mental health

As a manager, it’s easy to get distracted by meeting the needs of those around you while forgetting about your own, but it’s important to take the time to check in with your own feelings and make sure you’re still on track. Maintain regular catch-ups with your own manager or a trusted colleague who has some insights into your professional situation, and be frank about the challenges you’re experiencing both at and beyond work.

Sharing your experiences with your team can also be beneficial – acknowledging

the difficulties you are experiencing with

this new arrangement can help staff feel more comfortable speaking to you about their difficulties early on and can also help you clarify your own feelings. If you need extra support, use the channels available to you both in and beyond your workplace.

“Being in tune with changes in your own behaviour or ability to manage workload is important,” Gayed says.

“The resources that you would hopefully be across for your employees are also relevant for you.”

This article has been published with the kind permission of ‘The Blackdog Institute’ which is the only “medical research institute in Australia to investigate mental health across the lifespan” as they strive to create a mentally healthier world for everyone. https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/