How to support the wellbeing of others

There’s a lot you can do to strengthen the wellbeing of your teammates. We’ll share strategies to help you do just that. 

Before we begin...

Similar to how on a plane you’re supposed to put the oxygen mask on yourself first, supporting others also means making sure your wellbeing is in a good place. So also consider your needs before extending a helping hand.

Respect others’ boundaries

At work, it can feel like you always need to be “on”—especially on a global team, where someone is always online. You can help your teammates establish firm boundaries by: 

• Respecting time blocks that you see on the calendars of colleagues.
• Gently reminding others to be mindful of calendar blocks and “do not disturb” time zones.
• Honoring team-wide or company-wide policies, such as “no meeting Wednesdays,” by not booking calls on those days.

Demonstrate your support

One of the best ways to support the wellbeing of your colleagues is to champion their efforts! You can do this by: 

• Cheering them on when they hit important milestones related to wellbeing. 
• Being supportive when they take a mental health day or vacation. 
• Offering to be an accountability buddy to help someone toward their wellbeing goals.

Be present

Simply being present for your teammates is a great way to support their wellbeing. This is a great way to establish trust and build the social connectivity that our sense of wellbeing thrives on. You can be present by: 

• Shutting down all distractions, such as closing your laptop and putting your phone away.
• Practicing active listening, rather than passive listening. 
• Asking thoughtful questions or offering supportive remarks. 

Learn about your teammates

Everyone works, communicates, and deals with stress in different ways. It’s essential to understand the approaches of your teammates so you can support each other. You can learn more about your teammates by: 

• Having everyone fill out a User Manual, which outlines each person’s work preferences. 
• Asking your teammates questions like “What is one thing that is important for your wellbeing you do not want to compromise?”
• Scheduling wellbeing 1-1s to check in on your teammates and see if you can offer support.