Healthy leadership in focus: Tips for more well-being in the workplace!

Healthy leadership in focus: Tips for more well-being in the workplace!

On June 5, 2025, a guest lecture on the topic of “Healthy Leadership” took place at the Schwäbisch Gmünd University of Education. This lecture was part of the lecture series “Resilience and resilience promotion in the work context” and was organized by the Department of Educational Psychology and Health Psychology. The speaker was Ass.-Prof. Dr. Miriam Arnold from the University of Groningen, who discussed the influence of managers on the health of their employees.

A central concern of the lecture was the health of employees as a priority in modern working environments. According to the speaker, early warning signs of stress are crucial in order to be able to take countermeasures in a timely manner. She highlighted that caring practices, also known as staffcare, have a positive impact on employees' well-being, engagement and work-life balance. In addition, Arnold emphasized the challenges of remote digital leadership, the effectiveness of which depends heavily on a reliable digital infrastructure.

Responsibility and role model function of managers

The lecture series was given by Prof. Dr. Led by Birte Dohnke and Julia Mayr, it was aimed at students of the Bachelor's degree program in Health Promotion and Prevention as well as guests and cooperation partners. It is also worth mentioning that the university has been cooperating with regional police forces since 2015. This platform promotes dialogue about the effects of care on managers and their role model function for one another.

Dr. Miriam Arnold conducts intensive research into the health-promoting role of managers, particularly in the school context. This research is particularly relevant because healthy leadership not only strengthens individual well-being, but also promotes team resilience within organizations. Following the lecture, initial discussions took place about future collaborations to actively support team resilience.

Healthy leadership as a competitive factor

The need for health promotion is also underlined by the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK). This supports companies in sensitizing managers to health-conscious leadership. According to the TK, 88.3% of employees see the commitment of managers as a decisive factor for their health and well-being at work. Good managers make a crucial contribution to reducing uncertainty about new learning content and increasing employee commitment. This means that companies that invest in the health of their employees can also position themselves more competitively in the long term.

In this context, support from superiors is fundamental. Clear distribution of tasks, accessibility for problem discussions and the creation of scope for action are among the key strategies for minimizing health stress and creating a positive working environment.

Challenges for managers

Managers, especially those in sandwich positions, often face conflicting demands and structural conditions. These challenges require precise development of healthy leadership skills. Demographic change, cost pressure and a shortage of skilled workers are further factors that illustrate the need for health-promoting leadership. Studies show that the health and long-term loyalty of employees are key success factors for companies.

Managers are required to reduce stressors such as frequent work interruptions through individual and open feedback, appreciation and effective work organization. Transparency and a clear exchange are essential to create role clarity and actively promote the health of employees. The BGW supports managers with products, projects and research projects to expand knowledge about health-promoting leadership.

In summary, the discussion about the influence of leadership on employees and their health in today's working world encompasses many facets. From the findings of the lecture series and the supporting programs of the TK and BGW it becomes clear that health leadership is not only an individual advantage, but also an obligation and opportunity for entire organizations.