Breaking the silence: Ford & Stanley’s commitment to men’s wellbeing on International Men’s Day
International Men’s Day is observed on the 19th November to acknowledge men’s contributions to society, families, and communities around the globe. This year’s theme is Zero Male Suicide, with three-quarters of registered suicide deaths in the UK in 2020 being men.
Annually, a growing number of women, men, and organisations nationwide observe International Men’s Day in the UK. It’s been gaining more awareness over the past five years, with over 600 organisations participating in 2022, triple the number in 2018.
Every year, the UK uses the following three central themes for International Men’s Day in an effort to increase participation:
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- enhancing the quality of life and wellbeing of boys and men
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- bringing attention to and/or money for organisations that promote the wellbeing of men and boys
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- encouraging a constructive dialogue about men, manhood, and masculinity
Good health and wellbeing can be a core enabler of employee engagement and organisational performance.
As advocates for better work and working lives, Ford and Stanley focuses on promoting and supporting employee wellbeing, as a successful workplace wellness plan can benefit individuals, businesses, communities, and economies all at the same time. People can thrive and realise their full potential in a healthy work environment. This entails establishing an atmosphere that actively encourages happiness for the benefit of both the workforce and the company.
Investing in workers’ wellbeing can result in improved performance and productivity, decreased sick leave, greater employee engagement, and increased resilience. However, because they operate independently from regular company operations, wellbeing programmes frequently fall short of their potential. Priorities for employee health must be embedded in an organisation’s culture, leadership style, and personnel management in order to truly benefit from them.
Businesses are uniquely positioned to advance this agenda and to prioritise it, and guarantee that line managers possess the self-assurance and competence necessary to support the wellbeing of their teams.
Through performance coaching, team members can clarify their responsibilities, match their goals with the company’s mission, and develop the competencies required to give their best work, for the benefit of themselves as well as the business. And the results are there for all to see.
One study found that 86% of companies not only made their investment back but also saw additional returns. 19% even reported a return of over 50%! This statistic demonstrates the many advantages of coaching, which include boosting output, encouraging teamwork, creating leaders, and stimulating creativity.
The remarkable return on investment (ROI) of performance coaching was revealed by yet another persuasive study carried out by a Fortune 500 company, which concluded that:
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- according to a considerable 77% of participants, at least one important business metric was positively impacted by coaching.
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- the broad benefits of coaching were demonstrated by the increasing trend in overall productivity, employee satisfaction, engagement, and quality.
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- the most remarkable result of executive coaching was a whopping 788% return on investment, demonstrating its extraordinary worth in the business world.
And if any organisations are still in any doubt as to the power of performance coaching, Gallup’s comprehensive research demonstrates the strong – and game-changing – correlation between employee engagement and coaching: workers are 3.5 times more likely to be engaged if they say they’ve had meaningful conversations about their goals and strengths with their manager in the last six months.
As well as our clients, over the years we’ve helped and continue to help our own valued team with performance coaching and other strategies so they can achieve their goals. This was long before it came to the fore as a ‘must-have’ tool for businesses and their employees.
Here are just a few testimonials from Ford & Stanley male employee’s demonstrating the impact our performance coaching has had on their wellbeing and ultimately, their performance.
“The ability to have a confidential chat with someone about mental health has been a great support structure for me. I think being a man in a male-dominated working environment sometimes makes you feel you have to ‘grow a pair’ even when things are starting to get overwhelming.
Being able to speak to someone outside of work who really listens and obviously wants what’s best for you Is a great feeling and gives the security that I’m not alone in my journey to being a better me.”
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“It’s an age-old thing with men – the belief that they don’t need to talk about problems!
Anyone that engages with this service, needs to believe in it. Through the performance coaching aspect, I have gone from strength to strength reflected in my growth and in areas I needed support in mental health, the service has been invaluable.
I believe that seeking advice on the areas you are weaker is better than thinking you are the finished article.”
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“As men, we are often reluctant to talk about our mental health issues. However, accessing mental health services has helped me to address some specific problems that I was struggling with. Instead of going through the motions, it has enabled me to confront and better understand my emotions. The result is that I’m able to live in the present more fully.
In short, having easy access to a safe, confidential space to discuss my issues has been a lifesaver for me.”
Want to experience the powerful impact of performance coaching on your employees and organisation? Contact us on 01332 344443.
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