Centering leadership around wellness

Employers may wonder what role wellness has to play in leadership, or how they can improve an individual’s well-being. But since most people spend so much of their lives working, the workplace is full of opportunities to impact wellness either positively or negatively. Cultivating wellness helps leaders retain employees, maintain morale, and create a supportive workplace where everyone can thrive.

The British Medical Journal (BMJ) reports that physician leaders impact well-being and physicians’ perception of value alignment with their organization.¹ “…[T]he leadership behaviors of physician supervisors have a strong relationship to their team members’ burnout, professional fulfilment, and intent to leave.” Wellness-centered leadership is a necessity in today’s competitive and high-stress work environment. What does it look like in practice?

Cultivate a supportive culture

Foster a workplace culture that prioritizes open communication and team building. Encourage staff to share their concerns and challenges without fear of judgment. Actively listen to their needs and implement initiatives based on their feedback. Regularly engage in team building that will help enhance trust and promote overall well-being. One example of an effective team building activity is conducting a case study collaboration session that encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and communication. Teams select a challenging dermatology case, discuss it in small groups made up of a mix of roles (dermatologists, nurses, administrative staff), and brainstorm how to ensure the patient receives optimal care. Following the discussion, groups present their findings to encourage collaborative learning. An activity like this strengthens teamwork and contributes to building a supportive work environment.

Lead by example

Leading by example is important because it sets a standard of behavior, builds trust, and inspires others to emulate positive qualities. Wellness can be learned. One of the ways we learn is by modeling what we see. Leaders who value and prioritize wellness by promoting wellness policies, encouraging open communication, practicing self-care, and demonstrating effective stress management make a positive impact on the overall well-being and productivity of employees. Remember that what you show is at least as important as what you say, because leaders serve as a living example of the values and principles they uphold.

Focus on wellness solutions

Being solution-oriented is important because it promotes proactive problem-solving, fosters creativity, and encourages a positive mindset. Collectively focusing on solutions to wellness challenges will yield greater success. Solutions in a dermatology practice include right-sizing your clinical and non-clinical staff, identifying opportunities for increased office efficiencies, and adopting appropriate technologies to outsource simple tasks. In addition to these, it is important to create workflows that appropriately delegate tasks, encourage setting clear boundaries and say “no” when appropriate, and adopt morning huddles to strategize for the day ahead.

Support work-life balance

Leaders play an important role in maintaining good work-life balance. Create policies that define work hours, encourage time off, and set after-work expectations. Next, provide flexible work options and support employees in managing their schedules effectively. Promote well-being by encouraging breaks, offering mental health support, and fostering a work culture where health and personal time are valued. This is particularly important for physicians, who are known for rarely taking sick leave which can then impact the entire practice. If you want to be innovative, consider initiating a “Wellness Challenge,” encouraging staff to participate in a friendly competition focused on adopting healthier habits and taking breaks. Be part of the challenge and celebrate the positive changes!

Provide access to mental health resources

It is crucial to eliminate the stigma associated with health care workers seeking mental health assistance. Employers and leaders can play a significant role in promoting and facilitating access to mental health resources within the workplace. These include:

• Ensuring that employee health insurance coverage includes adequate coverage for mental health services, including therapy and counseling sessions.

• Offering an employee assistance program to support employees and their families.

• Scheduling trainings and workshops for supervisors and non-supervisors.

• Setting up peer support programs as appropriate.

Do not neglect the personal touch, like conducting regular one-on-one check-ins with employees to discuss workload, stressors, and overall well-being.

Encourage continuous learning and growth

Support employees’ personal growth and self-improvement in their professional roles. This includes offering job-relevant education, professional development, leadership training, and mentorship. In addition, leaders should provide regular, honest performance feedback to employees, with achievable goals and expectations. Beyond traditional resources such as conferences, webinars, and online learning materials, consider implementing a shadowing or “learning exchange program” where staff members can engage in cross-functional observations and insights. This can help encourage a culture of continuous learning, collaboration, adaptability, and mutual appreciation. Finally, make sure that as a leader you are abreast of new research and information on physician and staff wellness so you can make improvements over time.

Burnout can impact us all, so the problem needs to be addressed collectively. Cultivating a wellness-centered workplace fosters a positive culture, inspires individuals to adopt healthy habits, increases job satisfaction, and helps foster a strong sense of community.

1 Mihriye Mete et al. BMJ Open. 2022;12(6):e057554.

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