Even individual athletes have a support system around them to help them achieve their personal best, and the collaboration and connection that support network provides is crucial to mental wellbeing and success.
Similarly, in the workplace, fostering mental wellbeing can lead to happier employees, more aligned and productive teams, and a more resilient culture.
The British Sailing Team is the most successful Olympic sailing team in history, and on this World Mental Health Day, its Head Coach Joe Glanfield – a double Olympic medallist and two-time gold medal-winning coach – shares some of his lessons from sport in creating supportive teams in the workplace.
Here are Joe’s five top tips for a healthy team environment.
Teams thrive when they share a common goal. This is as true in sport as it is in the workplace. A clear vision, with input from all team members, creates a sense of ownership and alignment. When everyone understands the direction and purpose of the team, they feel connected to the outcome and clear in the part they plan towards achieving that.
By involving as many voices as possible, leaders not only ensure alignment but also boost morale, as team members are more likely to feel valued and motivated to contribute their ideas.
In any team environment, it’s crucial that team members feel they have a voice. Regular review structures — whether through team meetings or individual check-ins — provide a platform for feedback, concerns, and ideas.
This open line of communication helps team members feel valued and supported, prevents misunderstandings, fosters collaboration, and ensures that the team’s needs are being considered.
In sport, regular debriefs and open feedback loops are essential for continuous improvement, and the same can apply in professional settings.
Sports, especially dynamic ones like sailing, often involve unpredictable schedules. The same is true for many professional environments, where constant changes can lead to uncertainty.
A structured approach to work helps manage this. Understanding when team members are “on” and “off” – especially in multi-site or hybrid workplaces – ensures balance and prevents burnout. Without clear boundaries, personal time and work can blur, leading to frustration, friction and burnout among team members.
By agreeing on a schedule and communicating it clearly, organisations can create balanced environments that support mental wellbeing and respect downtime.
Goal setting is a cornerstone of success in both sport and business. However, it’s not enough just to set ambitious targets — those goals must be realistic, time-bound, and carefully thought out. Consider how much time and effort a goal will take, what it might cost in terms of resources or other areas that might have to be deprioritised, and how progress towards it will be measured. Clear, attainable goals help team members maintain focus and motivation, reducing stress that can come from unrealistic
Staleness can be the enemy of creativity and mental wellbeing. Just as sports teams change up their training routines to keep athletes engaged, workplace meetings can benefit from occasional changes in setting and structure. Moving meetings to a different environment or introducing new tasks and discussion points can revitalise energy and creativity. This not only prevents monotony but also supports mental health by keeping things fresh and stimulating.
It's well known that sailing, watersports, and spending time around the water are all great boosts to well-being. Find out more about how these can help improve your mental health.