Adam, a manager at Smart Pension, took the shrewd step of using his work-allocated training allowance to invest in his own mental wellbeing, thereby learning practical techniques to elevate his performance at work also.

This case study outlines the simple process that Adam followed, and summarises the feedback provided by Adam regarding his experiences and changes noticed after participating in the Mind Strength for Professionals programme.  The feedback is categorised into specific questions and corresponding responses, which help in evaluating the overall impact and effectiveness of the programme.

Solution

The Mind Strength for Professionals programme is a 7-week programme through which participants gain a complete psychology-based toolkit of practical tools and techniques that include stronger cognitive skills, the ability to remain calm and effective under pressure, enhanced collaborative relationships, and the ability to be highly resilient in the face of challenge and stress. It is delivered through a combination of self-led online skills-build learning and optional individual coaching sessions.

Implementation

Adam completed the full Mind Strength for Professional programme over 7 weeks, enabling him the perfect opportunity to build and try out practical new skills and behaviours over the course of the programme but in a relatively quick timeframe for acquiring the benefits.

Adam accessed the seven stages of the Mind Strength for Professionals programme through the online platform, allowing him full flexibility to complete the knowledge and skills-build material at convenient times.

To enhance the benefits of the programme, Adam opted to add three supportive coaching sessions, one after each of stage 1, stage 4 and stage 7. These sessions supported Adam in consolidating his knowledge and the application of new skills to his personal circumstances.

Adam used the strategies of breaking down each stage into 2 or 3 manageable sessions he could fit into his other commitments, and to schedule these times in advance.

To maintain his new habits and behaviours longer term after completion of the programme, Adam has scheduled in a review session each month which enables him to reflect on his use of his Mind Strength skills and how he has been applying them to everyday life at home and work.

Results and Evaluation

Adam measured significant improvement from the start to end of the programme on the psychometric assessments. This was in the areas of:

Adam described further benefits that included:

• Greater awareness of his thinking processes for better decision making, planning, focus
• Control over worrying
• Adherence to relaxation strategies and physical health improvements
• Awareness to be able to take proactive action under pressure
• Psychologically he described feel more energetic, motivated, and confident

Adam spoke with us after the programme to help understand the impact of the programme for him, and gave us the following responses to these questions:

1. Question: What are the things that you like most about the Mind Strength programme?

Response:

• Adam found the self-led platform very easy to use.
• He appreciated the clear instructions provided, which made navigation straightforward and with the given timings he knew when he could fit in a section.
• The overall user experience was smooth, which contributed to his positive impression of the programme.

2. Question: Has your performance at work changed in any way since using the platform?

Response:

• Adam feels happier within himself, suggesting an indirect positive impact on his work performance.
• He is more focussed and knows how to identify which worries he can take control of so he can direct his efforts usefully.

3. Question: Do you feel your productivity has changed since using the platform?

Response:

• Adam stated that he doesn’t take things as personally now.
• He has adopted a more reflective approach, thinking more about his actions, which could indicate improved productivity and better decision-making.

4. Question: Have you noticed any other changes or things you’d like to share?

Response:

• Adam reported that he told his boss the platform landed at the right time for him, implying that it was a beneficial intervention.
• He didn’t specify other changes, but the timing suggests the platform had a meaningful impact during a crucial period.

5. Question: Would you recommend this programme to others at Smart Pension?

Response:

• Adam thought that many people would benefit from this. He would recommend it because it supports mental health, offering a library of tools and techniques to refer back to during tough times. It helps build both personal and professional resilience.
• It’s important that they choose to opt in voluntarily rather than being compelled. It’s crucial for individuals to understand why they’re participating and what they stand to gain.
• Timing is also key—this needs to be offered at the right moment in someone’s life.
• As a Mental Health Champion, Adam sees this as an excellent resource to recommend to those struggling with stress or anxiety.
• He believes the price is very reasonable for the three sessions with a PhD Psychologist.

Summary and Conclusion

Adam’s feedback indicates a positive experience with the self-led aspect of the programme, with particular emphasis on ease of use and clarity. He found the supporting coaching sessions added value to the outcomes he had already gained with each stage.

He met his objectives and showed quantifiable improvements in his resilience, level of stress, and mental wellbeing. Adam highlighted a positive shift in his personal wellbeing and approach to work, which indirectly enabled positive changes in his performance and productivity.

Mind Strength for Professionals was a successful programme for Adam. No wonder he recommends it to his colleagues at Smart Pension.