Workplace Wellness and Collaboration

We often focus primarily on the organisational advantages of collaborative working, but the benefits can be a lot more extensive, including how it can help individuals.

For Internal collaboration to thrive in the workplace, good personal behaviours and the right culture are key contributors. A collaborative working environment is likely to have a really positive and motivational impact on people; as part of a team but just as importantly for their personal health and wellbeing.

In view of the strong link between collaboration and wellbeing, the Institute offers our members access to online sessions, run by a leading champion of health and wellbeing in the workplace, John Sidebotham.

John runs regular drop-in sessions for the Institute and if you are interested in joining, all members are welcome. It is a great opportunity to hear John's regular thoughts on wellbeing and be part of the discussion, where participants can contribute and share as they wish, in an informal, friendly and inclusive atmosphere.

John is a Programme Manager at Network Rail, a wellbeing guru, on a mission to make sure the people he works with are empowered to share, without judgement, what's on their mind. He's been a driving force in changing the way the Network Rail team view mental health. John's motivation to help others and support colleagues is because he believes that mental health is a hidden problem in the workplace. His view is "The more we talk, the better – about anything, from the smallest to the largest of our worries". John's mission is to break the stigma around mental health in the workplace. Sometimes we just need to know that there are people there for us, who care and want to listen.

In 2021, John received the British Empire Medal for his work on health and wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic. He recently attended the coronation of King Charles III as a guest.

John says "Sometimes it's easy to forget how much your mental health helps keep you safe. Mental safety and physical safety aren't exclusive, they work together. If you think someone is struggling: Show how you care: focus on the other person, make eye contact, put away your phone. Have patience: it may take time and several attempts before a person is ready to open up. Use open questions: use open questions that need more than a yes/no answer, and follow up with questions like 'tell me more'. Say it back: check you’ve understood, but don't interrupt or offer a solution."