According to a survey of more than 1,500 managers, 90% of decision-makers say they are in good physical shape (+7 points compared to 2023), while only 76% consider themselves to be in good psychological health. *. We have indeed noticed greater psychological fragility among business leaders since the Covid pandemic.
For Franck Berthouloux, former franchisor, consultant and volunteer within the 1spire association, focused on the health of managers and businesses, this is not surprising, since the well-being of managers tends to be modeled on the economic health of their business: “Stress is often linked to economic crises, such as filing for bankruptcy, cash flow problems or a decline in activity. While problems like the resignation of an employee or a conflict with a supplier are less intense (…) What we must remember is that it is not stress that kills, but our reaction to it . »
Four key levers
To diagnose these difficulties, the association has identified four quadrants, starting with the relationship to time, and to the size of the company and its growth. “Time management, for example, can concern business leaders who have difficulty managing both the notion of long-term strategic vision and daily operational management.explains Franck Berthouloux. In terms of growth, the company may encounter areas of turbulence if it is in hypergrowth, for example. There may be difficulties in recruiting or retaining employees and somewhere, this opportunity for hypergrowth comes to challenge the manager. »
The other two dials concern the relationship with stakeholders, and with oneself: “The relationship with stakeholders is, for example, the ability to delegate, to surround oneself and to rely on partners. Finally, the relationship with oneself and the meaning of the project is essential, where we typically find the professional/personal balance, as well as the mental load. »
This balance is in fact particularly difficult to find for business leaders. 37% of managers still encounter difficulties reconciling their professional and personal lives*. A rate that has remained stable for five years. “These rates should not make us forget the daily realities of our leaders: maintaining a work/life balance remains a real challenge and it is still often difficult for them to establish regular follow-up with their doctor”comments Sylvie Bonello, General Delegate of the MMA Entrepreneurs of the Future Foundation.
A gradual change in mentalities
Is the myth of the entrepreneur who never sleeps over? In the collective imagination, the business manager is in fact invulnerable, always on the alert. Sometimes to the detriment of his mental health. “There is still work to be done on this acceptance of the vulnerability of the leader and moving away from exemplary behavior, allowing oneself to have moments of weakness”confides Franck Berthouloux.
-According to a Harvard Business Review study, which surveyed 238 SME executives over three months about their sleep duration, 47% of executives have poor sleep quality. The results also show that “fatigue and sleepiness have negative effects on the ability to evaluate and judge the profitability of new ideas”.
“There is, however, an awareness of the importance of mental well-being which is growing, particularly in franchise networks, some of which have called on us for prevention workshops, he emphasizes. They are setting up training to raise awareness among network facilitators about managing the well-being and mental health of franchisees. »
The key role of network facilitators
If the franchise model is very structured from an economic and legal point of view, “humans remain the heart of the reactor”continues the consultant. This is where the network facilitators come in, responsible for acting as a relay between the brand and the franchisees.
“We are seeing a professionalization of the profession of animator, which is a profession that is still poorly regarded by brands, believes Franck Berthouloux. But with the French Franchise Federation, we are working to restore the nobility of this profession which is essential to help franchise managers operate well. I compare it to managing high-level athletes. »
Ultimately, a manager in good mental health is a more efficient leader, more serene and more capable of making strategic decisions for his company. This is why it is important that franchisors integrate actions to sustainably support their franchisees.
