In an industry as demanding as law, where deadlines, high stress cases, and long working hours are part of daily life, it's no surprise that Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has introduced well-being guidance to help firms better support their employees. As health coaches, we understand how crucial these guidelines are for both the individual and the company. In this post, we'll explore the SRA's well-being recommendations and how health coaching - both individual and group sessions - can play a vital role in achieving a healthier, more productive workforce.
Understanding the SRA Well-being Guidance
The SRA well-being guidelines emphasise the importance of law firms taking proactive steps to manage and promote the physical and mental health - whole person health - of their staff. These guidelines encourage:
Stress Management and creating a positive working environment
Recognising the impact of mental health challenges, including anxiety and burnout
Promoting a balanced work-life approach by offering flexible working hours and encouraging regular breaks
These points align closely with the approach health coaching takes; addressing not only workplace pressures but also supporting the individuals overall - whole person - well-being.
The Health Impact on Legal Professionals
Legal professionals often face high levels of stress, with recent surveys showing that 71% of lawyers report symptoms of anxiety, a 5% increase from 2022. In 2023 there was a 24% increase in the number of people contacting LawCare, the mental health and well-being charity for Legal Professionals. This is where SRAs guidance is crucial: law firms must understand the significance of prioritising their team' well-being.
Pinpointing the Root Cause
One of the key benefits of health coaching is the ability to pinpoint the root cause of stress. Is it excessive workload? Is it certain team dynamics or office culture? Health coaching helps individuals identify what's causing their stress and take actionable steps to manage it. Sometimes this means learning how to say no to additional work or having the courage to address difficult situations, like calling out a colleague whose behaviour contributes to ongoing stress. Empowering employees to tackle these root causes leads to better mental health and overall performance.
How Health Coaching Helps Law Firms Meet These Guidelines
Health coaching can be a key part of the solution in meeting SRA guidelines by:
Stress Management Techniques: Through minfulness, breathing exercises and simple coaching tools and strategies to manage stress before it escalates.
Building Resilience: By focussing on individual health goals - whether it's improving sleep, boosting nutrition, or increasing physical activity and movement - people become more resilient to workplace challenges.
Flexible and Tailored Support: Health Coaching offers personalised one-to-one or group sessions, tailored to the needs of the business, that directly addess the SRA's emphasis on reducing absenteeism and creating a healthier culture.
Focusing on actions required to remedy situations and circumstances. Health coaching isn't therapy, it is action based, holding people to account to bring about change and move people from A (being stuck) to B (their desired outcomes).
The Power of Group Well-being Sessions
Connection: Participants gain insights into the challenges their colleagues face, which can build empathy and reduce feelings of isolation
Encourage Social Interaction: In fast-paced work environments, especially post-pandemic, feelings of loneliness can affect health. Group sessions provide an opportunity for social interaction, offering a supportive environment where your people can connect with each other, even when delivered over MS Teams / Zoom.
Offer Mutual Support: Discussing challenges in a group can lead to solutions that may not arise in one-to-one offerings. Group dynamics allow invididuals to offer support and share experiences that resonate with others
Small Investment, Big Impact: These sessions require a small financial investment but often create ripple effects that last far beyond the session itself - leading to improved team morale and engagement, both of which are vital in high-pressure industries like law.
Stats on Workplace Well-being
UK businesses investing in employee well-being have seen significant improvements in employee satisfaction and productivity. For example:
Research by Deloitte shows that for every £1 invested in mental health interventions, employers see a return of £5 due to reduced absenteeism, presenteeism and staff turnover.
Business in the Community, The Princes Responsible Business Network published research by the McKinsey Health Institute suggesting the value of improved health and well-being equates to £4-12k per person (6-17% of the UKs GDP!).
If your law firm business is looking to stay ahead of the curve and meet SRA's well-being standards, health coaching could be the proactive step you need. At Health Steps, we provide personalised, evidence-based well-being solutions, including both one to one health coaching and group well-being sessions, designed to fit seamlessly into and legal practice.
To learn more about how our health coaching services can help your practice meet the SRA well-being guidelines, get in touch with Amanda from Health Steps on amanda.robinson@healthsteps.co.uk
Author: Amanda Robinson dipCNM, UKIHCA-RHC is a registered health coach and founder of Health Steps. She holds a diploma in health coaching from the College of
Naturopathic Medicine in London and is a proud member of the UK & International Health Coach Association .
Amanda specialises in helping individuals and businesses improve their health and well-being through personalised coaching, workplace well-being programmes and online courses. If you'd like to learn about how health coaching can support your personal or workplace well-being, you can contact with her at amanda.robinson@healthsteps.co.uk
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