The psychologist is convinced: “Work is not only a source of stress, but also an important factor of stability.”
Dusseldorf The corona crisis and the Ukraine war have a lot in common, says Hanne Horvath. “Something happens that I don’t know, I can’t assess and it’s also difficult to control – and control is very important for people,” says the psychologist in the Handelsblatt podcast “Rethink Work”. “If you lose the feeling of being able to control something, then it greatly encourages psychological problems.”
For many, the pandemic was the straw that broke the camel’s back – they clearly felt that at HelloBetter, says Horvath. The 36-year-old co-founded the online therapy platform, which offers digital courses – some on prescription – against burnout and stress, but also against depression and chronic pain.
The need is there: according to market researcher Gallup’s well-known “Engagement Index 2021”, at the end of last year more than a third of the employees surveyed in Germany’s companies stated that they had felt burned out in the last 30 days due to work stress. And the annual survey by the German Depression Aid Foundation in 2021 came to the conclusion that one in five employees has already been diagnosed with depression.
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But how can you tell if a colleague is mentally stressed? “Because something has changed, that someone is different than before,” explains Horvath. That could go both ways. Someone who was rather reserved before, but then has a strong urge for exchange – or vice versa. “You only notice that, for example as a manager or as a colleague, if you have already had a good and regular exchange with someone beforehand.”
Horvath therefore advises creating a culture in every company in which everyone can openly answer the question “How are you?”, a “safe space” so to speak, as she calls it. A framework in which appreciation is lived and everyone has their freedom of action, which enables them to regain certain control experiences. “Work is not only a source of stress, but also an important stability factor.”
“Who actually gives me appreciation?”
And as a manager, you have to talk about your own weaknesses or stresses from time to time, believes Horvath. “It opens up the possibility for others to do the same.” There was also an aha experience that she had working with a coach who advises the eight-strong HelloBetter management team.
“We deal a lot with the topic of appreciation for the team, and at some point I asked myself: who actually gives me appreciation?” says Horvath. Management has never been about mutual feedback. “It’s incredibly difficult to change that. And we’re not where we’d like to be yet.”
The psychologist is convinced that no company today can afford to ignore the issues of stress, burnout, depression and the like. But the number of employees affected is often underestimated. “Then you make an offer for a small circle, and everyone is then surprised at how many people are interested in it.”
More: You can hear the previous episode of Handelsblatt Rethink Work here.