Project Team Mental Wellness: What Project Managers Should Know

Michael R. Wood is a Business Process Improvement & IT Strategist Independent Consultant. He is creator of the business process-improvement methodology called HELIX and founder of The Natural Intelligence Group, a strategy, process improvement and technology consulting company. He is also a CPA, has served as an Adjunct Professor in Pepperdine's Management MBA program, an Associate Professor at California Lutheran University, and on the boards of numerous professional organizations. Mr. Wood is a sought after presenter of HELIX workshops and seminars in both the U.S. and Europe.

  Career Development   Leadership   Talent Management  

When project team members are continuously overburdened with work and deadlines, it can lead to burnout, anxiety and depression. The same holds true when teams are experiencing poor management practices, such as lack of support from supervisors or being micromanaged.

If left to fester and grow, these situations can become chronic in nature and lead to the impaired mental wellness of individuals—and even the entire team. This can create a toxic work culture that fosters negativity, low morale and turnover.

Additionally, workplace intimidation and harassment can also lead to impaired mental wellness situations. It is crucial for project managers to recognize the root causes of poor attitudes and behaviors and take proactive steps to address them.

This could include providing resources for stress management; taking courses on effective leadership practices; implementing policies against intimidation and harassment; and creating a supportive work environment that prioritizes employee well-being. Mitigating damaging attitudes and behaviors supports a healthier workplace that promotes positive mental wellness for all employees, better team performance and more successful projects.

As a project manager, your job is to oversee the successful completion of projects within your organization. However, if the unreasonable demands and pressures of the job increase and …

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