Today’s organisations face complex challenges that require well-prepared and resilient leadership. This is why executive coaching has become a key tool for developing leadership skills.
However, despite its benefits, this approach often fails to delve into critical aspects such as mental health at work and the holistic well-being of leaders.
This is where psychologists specialising in workplace well-being play a crucial role. They offer a deeper understanding and tailored solutions to leaders’ emotional and psychological needs beyond what conventional coaching can address.
The following article will explore the main differences between management coaching and organisational psychology. We also encourage you to download our resource on caring for leaders’ mental health, which will provide your management team with essential tools for their well-being.
First, what is executive coaching?
Executive coaching is a personalised development process that helps business leaders improve their performance and achieve their professional goals. This method is distinguished by its focus on decision-making, team management, and interpersonal skills development.
In this sense, an executive coach guides leaders through individual sessions to identify their strengths and areas for improvement, facilitating continuous and sustained growth. However, when it comes to addressing deeper challenges that impact mental health and emotional well-being, such as chronic stress or anxiety stemming from high work pressures, executive coaching may not be enough.
Limitations of executive coaching
Executive coaching focuses primarily on improving specific professional and personal skills, such as decision-making and team management. However, it may lack the depth to address underlying issues related to mental health and emotional well-being. This is crucial, especially for leaders in senior management positions who face significant pressures.
In these cases, the intervention of organisational psychologists becomes indispensable, as they can provide science-based therapeutic strategies and stress management techniques that help leaders maintain a healthy balance between their professional responsibilities and their personal well-being.
‘This is why we will continue to work together with the ifeel team, to map out a mental wellbeing strategy in line with the needs of all the people who make up Emasagra.’
Isabel Ruiz Maldonado, Head of Integrated Management Systems at Emasagra, an ifeel partner company.
Advantages of incorporating organisational psychologists
In order to effectively address problems related to the well-being at work and the mental health of leaders, organisational psychology provides an integral approach that complements executive coaching.
Psychology in the workplace brings many benefits to companies, not just limited to the development of specific skills. Among them, we can mention:
1. Comprehensive assessment: Psychologists offer detailed diagnoses of the emotional and mental state of individuals and teams, allowing for more precise interventions.
2. Personalised interventions: Unlike executive coaching, which may follow a more standard approach, psychologists can design intervention plans tailored to individual and collective needs.
3. Psychoeducation at work: Providing training in mental health and coping strategies helps leaders better understand their own emotional and behavioural patterns , facilitating more effective management of their teams and themselves.
4. Ongoing, holistic support: Psychologists not only address immediate problems, but also implement strategies for long-term, sustainable development of mental well-being.
5. Increased productivity: Companies that promote high work engagement, supported by strong organisational mental health, report a 22% increase in productivity, according to studies.
6. Talent retention: Companies can significantly improve their ability to retain talent by creating a work environment that prioritises mental health.
The importance of workplace well-being in senior management
When placed in a business context, we quickly realise that leaders not only face the usual pressures of the job but are also responsible for maintaining organisational well-being. This is why mental health in senior management positions is so important, as these leaders set the tone for the entire organisation.
Their ability to manage stress, make critical decisions under pressure, and maintain a clear, strategic vision directly impacts the culture and productivity of their teams. In addition, a leader who takes care of their mental health is better able to inspire and motivate their employees, fostering a healthy and resilient work environment that can face challenges and adapt to change more effectively.
In this context, support from workplace wellness professionals becomes essential to ensure that leaders not only survive, but thrive in their roles. This is where the integration of mental well-being solutions beyond those offered by executive coaching, can make a significant difference.
“We have felt very well supported, as we have been giving workshops at national and international level with great professionals. In addition, thanks to ifeel’s support, follow-up and support, we have been able to offer an emotional wellbeing service to our entire company’.
Pilar Collado Puerta, Head of Talent Management and Laura Risquete Trigo, HR – Talent Development at Gonzalez Byass, an ifeel partner company.
This statement underlines the importance of having experts who understand and can handle the complexity of work and personal dynamics.
Strategies to integrate organisational psychology into work environments
To maximise the benefits of psychological support at work, organisations should consider the following strategies:
| Strategy | Description |
|---|---|
| Psychological assessments | Integrate regular assessments to identify potential issues before they become crises. |
| Continuous training | Offer workshops and training sessions led by psychologists to enhance coping skills and resilience. |
| Psychological support in workplace culture | Promote an environment that values and supports mental health, integrating psychological services as part of standard professional development. |
Trust the experts
At ifeel, we know that while executive coaching remains a valuable tool, it is not always sufficient to address the modern workplace’s needs. By integrating psychologists with expertise in workplace wellbeing, organisations can offer a more comprehensive and effective approach to improving their leaders’ and teams’ mental health and well-being.
To support companies in this process, our team of expert workplace well-being psychologists has created a mental well-being solution for businesses that improves talent retention, reduces presenteeism, and combats employee stress.
With our mental well-being solution, your company’s HR managers can receive personalised, data-driven advice on improving mental health at work. In addition, this solution offers employees a 360° mental well-being service structured at different levels according to their needs. Try our solution now to see how it could help you.
We hope you found this article on executive coaching interesting. If you would like more information about our mental well-being solution for companies, simply request it, and we will contact your team as soon as possible.
