Leadership Conversations: Whose job is workplace anxiety? Part 1
Is workplace anxiety really being driven by the things we think it is?
From wellbeing apps to resilience training, organisations have invested heavily in solutions – yet anxiety continues to rise.
So what’s really going on beneath the surface?
In this episode, Stephen Yates and Ben Andrews , Consultants at The Oxford Group, explore the challenges leaders and organisations are grappling with every day: low engagement, rising anxiety, and a growing sense of uncertainty around evolving ways of working and shifting expectations. They also shine a light on one critical but often overlooked factor – the pivotal role managers play in shaping everyday experiences of anxiety at work.
At the heart of the discussion is a difficult tension: how much responsibility sits with the organisation and its leaders, and how much lies with individuals themselves?
Drawing on real-world perspectives, they unpack the common problems many teams face – from the impact of ambiguity and constant change to the unintended consequences of silence, inconsistency, and missed day-to-day interactions. At the same time, they challenge whether leaders can – or should – be held accountable for every experience of anxiety at work.
There are no easy answers. But there are critical conversations we can’t afford to avoid.
Watch the full episode to challenge your thinking and rethink what’s really driving anxiety in your workplace.