ACP Consulting

May marks Mental Health Awareness Month; a timely reminder that mental health is both deeply personal and shaped by the environments we’re part of.

The "69% Rule": According to a 2024 report by the Australian HR Institute, managers have as much impact on employee mental health as their spouses and partners, with 69% of people saying their boss affects their mental health more than their therapist.

In the workplace, leadership plays a meaningful role in that environment.

At the same time, the workplace can either support that wellbeing or add to the load.

But what often has the greatest day-to-day impact is 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
- How feedback is delivered
- How challenges are navigated
- How expectations are communicated
- How leaders respond under pressure

These micro-moments shape the overall experience of work.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐚 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡?
Having strong EI skills is both protective of personal mental health, and of those around you.

Effective leadership requires more than knowing what to do.
It requires awareness of:
- Thoughts
- Emotions
- Reactions

Because under pressure, even experienced leaders can default to habits that may unintentionally create tension or uncertainty.

Building emotional intelligence helps leaders pause, reflect, and choose responses that better support both performance and wellbeing.

𝐀 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡
Alongside supporting others, leaders can also take a moment to reflect:
- What environment am I helping to create?
- How do I respond when things don’t go to plan?
- What impact does my behaviour have on others?

We teach EI at work via our online and in-person transformational programs. Find out more:
𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: https://acpconsult.com.au/services/rising-leaders/
𝐈𝐧-𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧: https://acpconsult.com.au/services/group-leadership-programs/next-gen-leaders/