Matthew Lewis is a trusted board and leadership advisor, CEO coach and thought leader with a lifelong passion in supporting leaders and companies in their optional performance via leadership development, corporate wellbeing and high performance. He has 30 years of global executive talent, assessment, leadership development and executive coaching expertise, and has interviewed and assessed over 10,000 C Suite leaders, and most recently led the Dubai office hub and MENAT region of Russell Reynolds Associates. He has a deep expertise in applied neuroscience in executive coaching and is pursuing a PhD having delivered over 2000+ hours of CXO 1-2-1 coaching with over 200 C Suite executives.
We are delighted to announce that Matthew will be speaking in Riyadh and Dubai this February as part of our Wellbeing at Work Summit Middle East. We caught up with him to find out how he’s feeling in the run up to the summit.
Hi Matthew, we are thrilled you will be speaking at our Wellbeing at Work Summit Middle East in February. Our first and most important question is, how are you doing today?
Thanks for asking. Well thanks and looking forward to the event.
As a leader based in the region, what are the main challenges you are facing when it comes to employee wellbeing and mental health?
There are a several challenges as the concept of wellbeing is still relatively new, hence there is still education to be done regarding wellbeing as a preventative and precursor to high performance.
The main challenge with companies is helping them to fully understand wellbeing and how it needs to be considered holistically vs in isolation. That one size fits all will not work in the region, and to get active participation, engagement and action that accountability via coaching is key to success. This coupled with the ROI argument is key.
For employees, it’s ensuring that they can take action and ownership themselves both in and outside of the workplace for their wellbeing
What strategies have you seen developing over the past 6 months, both internally and externally, that are moving the dial on wellbeing in the workplace?
A move towards integrated holistic model of delivery versus expecting gym membership and yoga classes to move the needle.
The increase in awareness around mental health at work, psychological safety and even menopause.
Why is employee wellbeing so important to you personally?
Over 30 years I have seen great and poor examples of both companies and leaders that have either embraced or ridiculed wellbeing. Having had a full burnout in 2015, and worked with 1000s of senior executives I have seen first had the net effect of companies and individuals that were not addressing their physical and mental health seriously from heart attacks to suicide.
What impact is AI having in your organisation and how are you managing that?
It will impact every industry and sector. We are working deeply on AI related strategies to bring better solutions to more people, faster and encourage more interaction.
Other than AI, are there any challenges that you are seeing for the first time and how are you addressing them?
Well-washing like Greenwashing in Europe is an issue. Companies are dressing it up and not taking the real action required. Stress and burnout, linked to mental health challenges, coupled with sleep, nutrition and lack of movement in the region is a major factor in the rise of diabetes and obesity. Education here is to raise awareness and reduce the stigma that health coaching is remedial vs an opportunity for a longer healthier life.
What areas do you think employers should be focused on over the next 12 months?
Holistic approaches. Global Best Practices. Mental Health. Stress Management and Burnout.
Do you feel that investment in employee wellbeing in the region is increasing or decreasing and is that a direct reflection on HR leaders’ increasing ability to demonstrate effective returns of their strategies to leadership?
It’s increasing however not fast enough plus a lot of funds are directed into token low impact initiatives that do not tackle the route cause of workplace wellbeing. Psychological safety and culture all impact workplace wellbeing and old school leadership is still a challenge.
How has your organization been leading the way?
By bring 20 years of global best practice and research from formula 1 and Fortune 500 to the region. We are using tried and tested practices coupled with the world’s best coaches to deliver high impact programs for at risk and critical employees across the UAE and KSA.
Matthew will be speaking in Riyadh and Dubai at the Wellbeing at Work Summit Middle East which takes place in Riyadh, Dubai, Cairo and virtually. Further details on the Summit can be found here.
