2m |
Mental Fitness for the Small Business
Mental health issues affect us all. How we manage our daily stresses and anxieties have an impact on our relationships, how we perform in our job and the workplace environment, and our outlook on life. Becoming self-aware of what affects us, managing how we respond to triggers and using tools to help us work through them, are all part of our journey towards MENTAL FITNESS, which is how we should be positively defining it.
Considering that people spend roughly a third of their life in the workplace, businesses also have a duty of care for the mental health and emotional wellbeing of their staff to ensure productivity, successful recruitment, and the retention of talent. The success of your business starts with the health and wellbeing of your employees and will ultimately, indirectly, benefit the economy of Gibraltar.
Some of Gibraltar’s larger corporations are already culturally attuned to this way of thinking where their HR teams include a welfare officer or ‘people engagement’ person to provide support and access to mental health services. Their focus is recognising that staff feel satisfied, engaged, and able to cope with the demands and challenges of work. As employers, they play a crucial role promoting mental wellbeing by creating supportive and inclusive work cultures, offering resources for stress management, encouraging work-life balance, and addressing issues like burnout.
Small businesses should not be exempt from this. It is understandable that employee absenteeism, for mental health care, can have a huge impact on business. Positively, a smaller and more intimate work environment facilitates for support your business and employees need…
So how can a small business manage this? How do you create a culture that prioritises the mental fitness of your employees? What services and local schemes exist in Gibraltar to support you?
Here are some useful tips to help your business’ mental fitness strategy flourish:
- Flexible work arrangements: where possible, allow flexible schedules or remote work options to help employees manage their work-life balance, reducing stress
- Regular check-ins: hold regular one-on-one check-ins with employees to discuss their workload, challenges and provide a supportive environment
- Open communication channels: create an environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their mental health concerns and help them seek help when needed. GibSams have created a ‘Talking Toolkit’, which guides you how to have difficult conversations and importantly, how to listen
- Peer support: where possible, establish a peer-to-peer support network or buddy system to help employees connect and share their experiences
- Mental health time and/or days: allowing employees to take occasional mental health breaks or days off without stigma can help prevent burnout
- Mindfulness and meditation spaces: if you can, designate a quiet space for mindfulness and meditation to provide employees with a space to recharge
- Offer access to confidential counselling and support services: allow space and time for staff to engage with the GHA services or provide access via Gibraltar’s private healthcare sector, e.g., a public authority uses ‘Liberty Counselling Services’. For a more clinical approach, ‘Occupational Health Services Gibraltar’ enhances the productivity of your company and wellbeing of employees with health and safety measures
- Encourage the use of ‘wellness’ Apps: Mobile apps that provide mindfulness exercises, meditation sessions, stress management techniques and relaxation techniques can help employees manage their mental health, e.g., ‘Headspace’
- Mental health resources: providing access on and offline to resources like articles, videos and books on mental health topics can educate employees and help them take proactive steps, e.g. ‘The Holistic Psychologist’ account (on Instagram) provides invaluable information, helping increase self-awareness
- Mental health workshops and training: if possible, or by joining up with other businesses, organise/attend for training of staff &/or workshops on stress reduction, resilience building and mental health awareness; these will equip employees with coping strategies. E.g., Anne Marie Morello (found online), can both train your staff &/or provide these workshops.
- Stress-reduction activities: organising activities like yoga sessions, mindfulness, breathwork or team-building events can contribute to a positive work environment. E.g., Gibraltar’s ‘Integral Yoga Centre’ has many practitioners who can help
- Employee feedback: regularly seek employee feedback to help your business understand the specific needs related to mental health and what services can work/have worked best
SHARE THIS
OTHER
Love is big business. According to official statistics, 1,745 weddings took place in Gibraltar in 2021 followed by another 1,761 weddings in 2022 and a further 1640 in 2023. That’s around 33 weddings each week or 6 every single day. With an estimated population of around 33,000, it’s safe to say that, no, we aren’t all marrying each other, but that Gibraltar is a very popular place for many people to come and say ‘I do’. In fact, in all three years, non-residents outnumbered residents by an average of 90% to 10%. The stats point to a healthy wedding sector, one that our Minister for Tourism, Christian Santos is keen to develop. In an interview with the Gibraltar Chronicle he recently said he wanted; “Gibraltar to be the Las Vegas of Europe” when it comes to weddings. Unlike Vegas, we don’t have Elvis. But we do have John. Music legend John Lennon famously married Yoko Ono here in 1969 and put the Rock on the map for ‘Fast Track’ weddings. If music’s not your thing, acting legend Sean Connery (AKA James Bond) also tied the knot here (twice)!
Did you know that what you eat directly affects your energy levels, brain function, and stress resilience? Poor dietary habits—such as skipping meals, consuming too much caffeine, or relying on processed foods—can lead to energy crashes, brain fog, and reduced efficiency. On the other hand, a well-balanced diet stabilises blood sugar, enhances cognitive function, and keeps stress levels in check.
In an increasingly digital work environment where we have more emails, WhatsApp messages & interruptions than ever before, many business leaders started looking at ways of alleviating the stress that comes with this increased workload. Relaxing the dress code and letting your team dress down and wear in more casual clothing is one way of doing this….Or is it?
Introducing the Thrive Catalog - A curated collection of goodies selected by our editorial team each quarter. Everything featured is available right here, right now at prices that are better than or compete with the internet.
Raju Purswani examines Ted Baker’s fall, sharing sharp lessons for entrepreneurs: stay true to your brand, beware of overhauls that alienate customers, and balance growth with identity. A cautionary tale with insights every business can learn from.
One of the most dangerous things anyone can say in business is, "We've always done it this way." This phrase doesn't age well and puts businesses at risk. "We've always done it this way" can quickly look like "flogging a dead horse." This doesn't always mean that businesses need to change everything. Some things, like great service, never go out of fashion. But when sales start to slow down, it's always a good idea to consider taking a new approach. Rebranding a product, service, or entire enterprise can be part of this process. But rebranding should never be taken lightly.
Starting and running a small business is rewarding but comes with its fair share of challenges. The path of entrepreneurship is often characterised by immense dedication, long hours, and tough decisions. As a small business owner, you're not just responsible for the operations and growth of your company and team, but also for your own wellbeing.
When you’re a small business, staying one step ahead of the competition is essential. Yet, many small business owners grapple with the decision to invest in employee training and development. With limited resources and immediate financial pressures, it can unintentionally get pushed to the bottom of the priority list. However, investing in your team’s learning and development is a strategic move that can yield significant returns.
Over the past 18 years, I've had the privilege of working with a diverse range of businesses and industries, gaining insights into the challenges they face in implementing effective diversity and inclusion strategies. Often, DEI&B is viewed as a 'nice to have' rather than an essential component of business success. With this in mind, I'm excited to share valuable insights and practical steps to help you create environments where everyone can thrive. You've probably heard of DEI&B, but what do these letters really mean, and why do they matter for you and your organisation? Diversity includes differences like race, gender, age, neurodiversity, disability, LGBTQ+, culture, and more; Equity ensures equal opportunities for all; Inclusion values everyone's contributions; and Belonging means individuals feel accepted and integral to the organisation.
Since 2007, Earth Hour has been known as the biggest hour for the planet as millions of people switch their “lights off” as a symbolic action for the environment
When it comes to ideation in business, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Every business, team, and leader has their own way of generating and refining ideas. Whether it’s through structured brainstorming sessions, casual conversations, or solo reflection, the goal is to unlock creativity and find solutions. We’ve asked four GFSB members to share how they approach ideation in their fields. As you read, think about how you generate ideas and remember that sometimes, the best results come from trying something new.
Who doesn’t love a good office gossip? Hushed conversations by the coffee machine, knowing glances across the office, colleagues who "just thought you should know" – it’s all just harmless banter, right? Not quite. While gossip might seem like an inevitable part of office life, the reality is much less entertaining. Workplace backbiting can destroy trust, drain morale, and impact team productivity. Few people understand this better than Norwegian psychotherapist Glenn Rolfsen. With over two decades of experience in psychotherapy, Glenn has dedicated his career to helping businesses tackle workplace negativity head-on. His innovative "Gozzip" method has been transforming office cultures worldwide, earning him recognition at TEDx talks and WHO conferences.
Gibraltar has long been home to many international businesses. Gaming giants, UK-based insurance companies and far-flung fintech firms are all drawn here thanks to our strategic location and business-friendly environment. Carl Clavering moved his insurance business to Gibraltar, and it’s safe to say, it’s transformed his life. When I caught up with Carl, it was clear that his decision to relocate wasn't just about tax advantages or access to the UK market —it was about finding a place that felt like home, both for his business and his family.
Finding time to sit down with a book can feel like a luxury sometimes. We seem to be pulled in all sorts of directions, yet many of us still want to learn and stay exposed to new ideas. Podcasts have filled part of that gap. They’re accessible, conversational and easy to consume while commuting or […]
“People want to know the stories behind the products they buy. It’s not just about what’s on the shelf, but the journey it took to get there.” – Stella, Spirit of The Rock As consumer habits shift towards mindfulness and sustainability, the concept of slow shopping has emerged, offering both challenges and opportunities for small businesses. Slow shopping encourages consumers to take their time, make more thoughtful purchases, and focus on quality over quantity.
If, like me, you spend more time than you should doom scrolling LinkedIn, you could be tempted into thinking no-one fails. LinkedIn has become a hyperbolic haven and a place to scream and shout about success. But what about failures - why aren’t we talking about them? In business, failure is inevitable. I mean it. Whether it's a product flop, a marketing misstep, or a company on the brink of collapse, every entrepreneur will face moments that test them. Yet, history has shown that these failures can often be the starting point for something extraordinary.
When you’ve been running your own business for a while, you know what works, and it’s easy to rely on the skills that got you to where you are. Chances are, you’re comfortable doing things in a certain way, and your team knows what to expect from your leadership style.
Running a small business is an exciting journey, but without proper bookkeeping, it can quickly become overwhelming. Imagine trying to make critical business decisions without knowing how much money is in your account or being caught off guard by a hefty tax bill because records weren’t kept up to date. Good bookkeeping isn’t just about staying compliant; it’s about gaining control over your business, planning for growth, and avoiding costly mistakes.
Over the past few years, I’ve noticed the same logo cropping up more and more often. On coffee cups. On consultancy websites. In email signatures and pitch decks. The familiar B Corp badge, quietly signalling that a business is trying to do things differently. With our horizons widening post-treaty, could this globally-relevant badge could become a way of promoting your CSR values to an international market?
After teaching in schools for 18 years I decided to take the plunge and embark on a self-employed life. Driven by my passion for teaching children with special educational needs I set out to discover alternative ways to make education accessible to all. My vision was to have the individual in mind, with their own strengths and challenges, and with that came the birth of ‘edYOUcation Clare Francis’; bringing the YOU into learning.