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Leadership expert urges Welsh businesses to prioritise staff wellbeing to offset recession aftermath

A leading management expert is warning businesses in Wales that a proactive approach to employees wellbeing can mean the difference between a productive and committed workforce and one plagued with high staff turnover and low morale.

David Pardey, a senior manager for research and policy at the Institute of Leadership & Management is urging managers to place more importance on a healthy workplace, which he argues is vital for productivity during tough economic times. His comments come in light of new research by Aviva, revealing that 31% of businesses admit their sole concern is profit and productivity.

David was speaking to a group of Welsh women as part of a series of seminars offered to women undertaking management and career development training as part of Chwarae Teg’s flagship £12.5m European funded project, Agile Nation.

He said: “The Welsh economy is facing unprecedented cuts in the public and private sector meaning organisations are under added pressure to survive and maintain a productive and committed workforce. It is vital that in a period of economic uncertainty, managers are able to communicate well with their team and organise people to work effectively. Managers who fail at this, leave their company vulnerable to profit losses, increased absenteeism and high staff turnover.

“Many managers and team leaders feel that there is no place for emotion in the workplace but ignoring emotional reactions to issues such as redundancies and increased workload for staff can lead to low morale and decreased productivity. Managers have a responsibility to motivate their staff and reduce anxiety rather than being only concerned with financial performance.”

David’s warning to managers to improve use of emotional intelligence as a way of encouraging top performance from employees coincides with research which revealed that 1 in 5 people believes their manager creates a stressful work environment.

The Agile Nation project will work with 2790 women and is aimed at female progression and retention in the workplace.

Agile Nation project participant, Dorcas Cox from south Wales-based solicitors, Gwyn George Partnership said: “David’s message is an eye-opener and it highlights the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace, especially in terms of survival in a challenging economic climate. It is important that when employment issues or dilemmas arise, managers are perceptive to this and proactive in seeking a solution.”

In addition to delivering tailored and accredited leadership and management training for employed women, the Agile Nation project also helps employers implement flexible working solutions for employers.

Also available on Wales Online