Valuable research from Dr. Kyle Brykman & team! Something to keep in mind for leaders looking to inspire productivity and new ideas.
VPRI Early Career Research Chair in Business and Associate Professor of Management at Odette School of Business
Excited to share our latest publication, "Too Depressed and Anxious to Speak Up: Exploring Mental Health Variations and Workplace Silence", in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology with Anika E. Cloutier, Erica Carleton, PhD, & Daniel Samosh We set out to understand how fluctuations in employees' mental health impacts their tendency to remain silent at work. As predicted, we found that employees engaged in more silence during weeks in which they experienced elevated symptoms of (a) depression because it activates a sense that speaking up is pointless; and (b) anxiety because it activates a sense that speaking up is dangerous. However, we also found a silver lining... these relationships decreased during weeks when employees received recognition and support for their contributions. Accepting and/or offering support signaled to employees that speaking up is both worthwhile and safe, countering the negative impact of mental health challenges on silence. Two key takeaways: 1. Leaders must recognize the unseen ramifications of poor mental health. It manifests, in one way, as employees withholding critical ideas and concerns necessary for organizational success. Given that employees often showcase their competence and dedication at work by sharing ideas and raising concerns, our study highlights the risk of unintentional bias against employees experiencing mental health challenges. By being more likely to keep silent, they are less likely to stand out from the crowd. 2. Don't neglect the power of endorsement. Offering genuine support for employees' ideas can go a long way in dispelling negative thought patterns (e.g., "my ideas are dumb", "no one cares"), which are especially pronounced for people experiencing poorer mental health. Recognizing and crediting ideas can make a significant difference, regardless of managerial status. This study was inspired by many former students who shared their experiences of how mental health impacts their willingness to participate in class. Special thanks to Odette School of Business - University of Windsor for funding this research, and to our participants (many recruited via LinkedIn) for their invaluable time and contributions! Study link: https://lnkd.in/gDMgpkaV